Recombinant β-glucosidase variants for production of soluble sugars from cellulosic biomass

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to recombinant expression of a variant form of a fungal C1 strain β-glucosidase. The invention also relates to the generation of fermentable sugars from biomass and the production of biofuels by fermentation of the sugars using genetically modified organisms expressing the β-glucosidase variant. The invention provides methods for producing a fermentable sugar, such as glucose, from cellobiose by contacting cellobiose with a recombinant β-glucosidase variant protein, such as a variant protein secreted by a recombinant host cell into culture medium. Methods of the invention may be used for conversion of a biomass substrate to a fermentable sugar, and ultimately to ethanol or other biofuel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This applications is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/954,447,filed Nov. 24, 2012, which claims benefit of U.S. provisionalapplication 61/264,608, filed Nov. 25, 2009 and U.S. provisionalapplication No. 61/355,511, filed Jun. 16, 2010, each of which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAMLISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED AS AN ASCII TEXT FILE

The Sequence Listing written in file SEQTXT_(—)90834-804632_(—)002021US,created on Mar. 9, 2012, 121,568 bytes, machine format IBM-PC,MS-Windows operating system, is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety and for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to expression of recombinant β-glucosidasevariants and their use in the production of soluble sugars fromcellulosic biomass.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cellulosic biomass is a significant renewable resource for thegeneration of soluble sugars. These sugars can be used as reactants invarious metabolic processes, including fermentation, to producebiofuels, chemical compounds, and other commercially valuable products.While the fermentation of simple sugars such as glucose to ethanol isrelatively straightforward, the efficient conversion of cellulosicbiomass to soluble sugars is challenging (see, e.g., Ladisch et al.,1983, Enzyme Microb. Technol. 5:82). Cellulose may be pretreatedchemically, mechanically, enzymatically or in other ways to increase thesusceptibility of cellulose to hydrolysis. Such pretreatment may befollowed by the enzymatic conversion of cellulose to cellobiose,cello-oligosaccharides, glucose, and other sugars and sugar polymers,using enzymes that break down the β-1-4 glycosidic bonds of cellulose.These enzymes are collectively referred to as “cellulases.”

Cellulases are divided into three sub-categories of enzymes:1,4-β-D-glucan glucanohydrolase (“endoglucanase” or “EG”);1,4-β-D-glucan cellobiohydrolase (“exoglucanase”, “cellobiohydrolase”,or “CBH”); and β-D-glucoside-glucohydrolase (“β-glucosidase”,“cellobiase” or “BGL”). Endoglucanases break internal bonds and disruptthe crystalline structure of cellulose, exposing individual cellulosepolysaccharide chains (“glucans”). Cellobiohydrolases incrementallyshorten the glucan molecules, releasing mainly cellobiose units (awater-soluble β-1,4-linked dimer of glucose) as well as glucose,cellotriose, and cellotetraose. β-Glucosidases split cellobiose intoglucose monomers.

Cellulases with improved properties for use in processing cellulosicbiomass would reduce costs and increase the efficiency of production ofbiofuels and other commercially valuable compounds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention provides an isolated or recombinantβ-glucosidase variant comprising an amino acid sequence that is at leastabout 60% identical, sometimes at least about 65% identical and often atleast about 70% identical to residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2 (wild-typeC1 β-glucosidase), or which is encoded by a nucleic acid that hybridizesunder stringent conditions to SEQ ID NO:1 or the exact complement of SEQID NO:1, and which has at least one substitution, relative to SEQ IDNO:2, of an amino acid residue described herein, where the variant hasgreater β-glucosidase activity than the wild-type protein and/or is morethermostable than the wild-type protein. Also provided arepolynucleotides encoding the β-glucosidase variants, expression vectorscomprising said polynucleotides, and host cells transformed with theexpression vectors.

The invention also provides a method of producing a β-glucosidasevariant by culturing a host cell transformed with a polynucleotideencoding a β-glucosidase variant under conditions suitable for theexpression of the β-glucosidase. In some embodiments. the β-glucosidasepolypeptide is recovered from the culture medium or from the transformedand cultured cells.

The invention also provides an enzyme composition comprising an isolatedor recombinant C1 β-glucosidase variant. Optionally the enzymecomposition also includes at least one additional cellulase enzyme.

In a related and/or other aspect, the invention provides a method ofconverting a biomass substrate, such as cellobiose, to a fermentablesugar by contacting a β-glucosidase variant with the biomass substrateunder conditions suitable for the production of the fermentable sugar.In one embodiment the biomass substrate is maintained in a mediumcontaining cells expressing a β-glucosidase variant. In one embodimentthe recombinant host cell expressing a β-glucosidase variant alsoexpresses at least one other recombinant cellulase and/or other enzyme.Optionally the biomass substrate is pretreated before contacting thesubstrate with a β-glucosidase polypeptide variant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1. (A) Thermostabilities of improved C1 Bgl1 variants produced inthe C1 strain; Residual enzyme activity after 6 hr incubation at pH 5,65° C. was determined by pNPG assay at pH 5, 50° C. for 20 mins. N=6-8;Error bars represent ±1 standard deviation. (B) Thermostabilities ofimproved C1 Bgl1 variants produced in the C1 strain; Residual enzymeactivity after 24 hr incubation at pH 5, 65° C. was determined by pNPGassay at pH 5, 50° C. for 20 mins. N=6-30; Error bars represent ±1standard deviation. (C) C1 Bgl1 thermostability correlation betweenyeast and C1 hosts.

FIG. 2. (A) The thermostabilities of improved C1 Bgl1 variants 481, 269,and 3 were compared to that of the native C1 Bgl1 enzyme. The residualenzyme activity after 24 hr incubation at pH 4.5, 65° C. was measuredusing pNPG as substrate at pH 5, 50° C. for 20 mins. N=6-16; Error barsrepresent ±1 standard deviation. (B) The thermostability of improved C1Bgl1 Variant 664 was compared to that of Variant 481. The residualenzyme activity after 4 hr incubation at pH 4, 65° C. was measured usingpNPG as substrate at pH 5, 50° C. for 20 mins. N=6-24; Error barsrepresent ±1 standard deviation.

FIG. 3. The thermostabilities of improved C1 Bgl1 variants 3, 481, 664,916, 885, and 871 were compared to that of the native C1 Bgl1 enzyme.The residual enzyme activity after 72 hr incubation at pH 4.5, 65° C.was measured using pNPG as substrate at pH 5, 50° C. for 20 mins.N=6-10; Error bars represent ±1 standard deviation.

FIG. 4. The specific activity of native C1 Bgl1 was compared to that ofvariant 871 in a cellbiose assay. Assay conditions: pH 4.5-5,temperatures 55° C.-75° C.; 8 g/L cellobiose, 18 hr reaction. Proteinconcentration was normalized in reactions. N+2; Error bars represent ±1standard deviation.

FIG. 5. shows an alignment of native (wildtype), C1 Bgl1 amino acidsequence (SEQ ID NO:2) with the amino acid sequences of Variants 3 (SEQID NO:5), 269 (SEQ ID NO:7), 481 (SEQ ID NO:9), 647 (SEQ ID NO:15), 664(SEQ ID NO:13), 871 (SEQ ID NO:17), 885 (SEQ ID NO:19), and 916 (SEQ IDNO:21).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION I. Definitions

The following definitions are provided to assist the reader. Unlessotherwise defined, all terms of art are intended to have the meaningscommonly understood by those of skill in the molecular biology andmicrobiology arts. In some cases, terms with commonly understoodmeanings are defined herein for clarity and/or for ready reference, andthe inclusion of such definitions herein should not necessarily beconstrued to represent a substantial difference over the definition ofthe term as generally understood in the art.

The term “cellulase” refers to a category of enzymes capable ofhydrolyzing cellulose (β-1,4-glucan or β-D-glucosidic linkages) toshorter oligosaccharides, cellobiose and/or glucose.

The terms “β-glucosidase” and “cellobiase” are used interchangeably andrefer to a β-D-glucoside glucohydrolase which catalyzes the hydrolysisof a sugar dimer, including but not limited to cellobiose, with therelease of a corresponding sugar monomer. In one embodiment, aβ-glucosidase is a β-glucosidase glucohydrolase of the classificationE.C. 3.2.1.21 which catalyzes the hydrolysis of cellobiose to glucose.Some of the β-glucosidases have the ability to also hydrolyzeβ-D-galactosides, β-L-arabinosides and/or β-D-fucosides and further someβ-glucosidases can act on α-1,4-substrates such as starch. β-glucosidaseactivity may be measured by methods well known in the art, including theassays described hereinbelow.

The term “β-glucosidase polypeptide” refers to a polypeptide havingβ-glucosidase activity.

The term “β-glucosidase polynucleotide” refers to a polynucleotideencoding a polypeptide having β-glucosidase activity.

“Cellulolytic activity” encompasses exoglucanase activity (CBH),endoglucanase (EG) activity and/or β-glucosidase activity.

The terms “exoglucanase”, “exo-cellobiohydrolase” or “CBH” refer to agroup of cellulase enzymes classified as E.C. 3.2.1.91. These enzymeshydrolyze cellobiose from the reducing or non-reducing end of cellulose.

The terms “endoglucanase” or “EG” refer to a group of cellulase enzymesclassified as E.C. 3.2.1.4. These enzymes hydrolyze internal β-1,4glucosidic bonds of cellulose.

As used herein, the term “isolated” refers to a nucleic acid,polynucleotide, polypeptide, protein, or other component that ispartially or completely separated from components with which it isnormally associated (other proteins, nucleic acids, cells, etc.).

The term “wildtype” as applied to a polypeptide (protein) means apolypeptide (protein) expressed by a naturally occurring microorganismsuch as bacteria or filamentous fungus. As applied to a microorganism,the term “wildtype” refers to the native, non-recombinantmicro-organism. With reference to C1 β-glucosidase, wild-type Bgl1refers to the mature (secreted) form of the protein having the sequenceof residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2.

A “variant” as used herein means a β-glucosidase polypeptide orpolynucleotide encoding a β-glucosidase comprising one or moremodifications relative to wildtype C1 β-glucosidase (Bgl1) or thewildtype polynucleotide such as substitutions, insertions, deletionsand/or truncations of one or more specific amino acid residues or of oneor more specific nucleotides or codons in the polypeptide orpolynucleotide.

A “reference β-glucosidase sequence” refers to a defined sequence usedas a basis for a sequence comparison, such as SEQ ID NO:2. A referenceβ-glucosidase sequence may be a subset of a larger sequence. Generally areference sequence is at least 25 amino acid residues in length, atleast 50 residues in length, at least 100 residues in length, at least150 residues in length at least 200 residues in length, at least 300residues in length, at least 350 residues in length, at least 500residues in length, at least 600 residues in length, at least 700residues in length, or the full length of the polypeptide.

A nucleic acid (such as a polynucleotide), a polypeptide, or a cell is“recombinant” when it is artificial or engineered, or derived from orcontains an artificial or engineered protein or nucleic acid. Forexample, a polynucleotide that is inserted into a vector or any otherheterologous location, e.g., in a genome of a recombinant organism, suchthat it is not associated with nucleotide sequences that normally flankthe polynucleotide as it is found in nature is a recombinantpolynucleotide. A protein expressed in vitro or in vivo from arecombinant polynucleotide is an example of a recombinant polypeptide.Likewise, a polynucleotide sequence that does not appear in nature, forexample a variant of a naturally occurring gene, is recombinant.

An “improved property” refers to a β-glucosidase polypeptide thatexhibits an improvement in any property as compared to the wildtype C1β-glucosidase (Bgl1) (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2). Improvedproperties may include increased protein expression, thermoactivity,thermostability, pH activity, pH stability, product specificity,increased specific activity, substrate specificity, increased resistanceto substrate or end-product inhibition, altered pH/temperature profile,and chemical stability.

A variant with “improved β-glucosidase activity,” as the term is usedherein, means a variant displaying an increase, relative to a referencesequence, in the amount of substrate hydrolysis that occurs in aspecified time under specified reaction conditions. β-glucosidaseactivity can be measured using a variety of methods known in the art,such as the cellobiose assays described hereinbelow. To compareβ-glucosidase activity of two recombinantly expressed proteins, thespecific activity (activity per mole enzyme or activity per gram enzyme)can be compared. Alternatively, cells expressing and secreting therecombinant proteins can be cultured under the same conditions and theβ-glucosidase activity per volume culture medium can be compared.

The term “improved thermostability” as used herein means a variantenzyme displays an increase in “residual activity” relative to thewildtype enzyme. Residual activity is determined by exposing the enzyme(variant or reference, e.g., wild-type) to stress conditions of elevatedtemperature for a period of time and then determining β-glucosidaseactivity under conditions in which the reference (e.g., wild-type)enzyme normally has activity. The β-glucosidase activity of the enzymeexposed to stress conditions (“a”) is compared to that of a control inwhich the enzyme is not exposed to the stress conditions (“b”), andresidual activity is equal to the ratio a/b. A variant with increasedthermostability will have greater residual activity than the reference(e.g., wild-type) enzyme. Exemplary conditions for determiningthermostability are provided in the Examples, infra. In one embodimentthe enzymes are exposed to stress conditions of 65° C. at pH 5 for 6hrs, and assayed at 50° C., pH 5, for 1.5 hrs.

The terms “percent identity,” “% identity,” “percent identical,” and “%identical” are used interchangeably herein to refer to the percent aminoacid sequence identity that is obtained by ClustalW analysis (version W1.8 available from European Bioinformatics Institute, Cambridge, UK),counting the number of identical matches in the alignment and dividingsuch number of identical matches by the length of the referencesequence, and using the following default ClustalW parameters to achieveslow/accurate pairwise optimal alignments—Gap Open Penalty:10; GapExtension Penalty:0.10; Protein weight matrix: Gonnet series; DNA weightmatrix: IUB; Toggle Slow/Fast pairwise alignments=SLOW or FULLAlignment.

Two sequences are “optimally aligned” when they are aligned forsimilarity scoring using a defined amino acid substitution matrix (e.g.,BLOSUM62), gap existence penalty and gap extension penalty so as toarrive at the highest score possible for that pair of sequences. Aminoacid substitution matrices and their use in quantifying the similaritybetween two sequences are well-known in the art. See e.g., Dayhoff etal. (1978), “A model of evolutionary change in proteins”; “Atlas ofProtein Sequence and Structure,” Vol. 5, Suppl. 3 (Ed. M. O. Dayhoff),pp. 345-352, Natl. Biomed. Res. Round., Washington, D.C.; and Henikoffet al. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89:10915-10919, both of whichare incorporated herein by reference. The BLOSUM62 matrix is often usedas a default scoring substitution matrix in sequence alignment protocolssuch as Gapped BLAST 2.0. The gap existence penalty is imposed for theintroduction of a single amino acid gap in one of the aligned sequences,and the gap extension penalty is imposed for each additional empty aminoacid position inserted into an already opened gap. The alignment isdefined by the amino acid position of each sequence at which thealignment begins and ends, and optionally by the insertion of a gap ormultiple gaps in one or both sequences so as to arrive at the highestpossible score. While optimal alignment and scoring can be accomplishedmanually, the process is facilitated by the use of acomputer-implemented alignment algorithm, e.g., gapped BLAST 2.0,described in Altschul, et al. (1997) Nucleic Acids Res., 25:3389-3402(incorporated herein by reference), and made available to the public atthe National Center for Biotechnology Information Website. Optimalalignments and multiple alignments can be prepared using readilyavailable programs such as PSI-BLAST, which is described by Altschul, etal. (1997), supra. One useful alignment tool is “T-Coffee” (Notredame etal., 2000, J. Mol. Bio. 302:205-17). T-Coffee alignments may be carriedout using default parameters (T-Coffee Technical Documentation, Version8.01, July 2009, WorldWideWeb .tcoffee.org).

“Corresponding to,” “reference to, or “relative to,” when used in thecontext of the numbering of a given amino acid or polynucleotidesequence, refers to the numbering of the residues of a specifiedreference sequence when the given amino acid or polynucleotide sequenceis compared to the reference sequence.

An amino acid or nucleotide base “position” is denoted by a number thatsequentially identifies each amino acid (or nucleotide base) in thereference sequence based on its position relative to the N-terminus (or5′-end). Due to deletions, insertions, truncations, fusions, and thelike that must be taken into account when determining an optimalalignment, in general the amino acid residue number in a test sequencedetermined by simply counting from the N-terminus will not necessarilybe the same as the number of its corresponding position in the referencesequence. For example, in a case where a variant has a deletion relativeto an aligned reference sequence, there will be no amino acid in thevariant that corresponds to a position in the reference sequence at thesite of deletion. Where there is an insertion in an aligned referencesequence, that insertion will not correspond to a numbered amino acidposition in the reference sequence. In the case of truncations orfusions there can be stretches of amino acids in either the reference oraligned sequence that do not correspond to any amino acid in thecorresponding sequence.

Nucleic acids “hybridize” when they associate to form double-strandedstructures, typically in solution. Nucleic acids hybridize due to avariety of well-characterized physico-chemical forces, such as hydrogenbonding, solvent exclusion, base stacking and the like. As used herein,the term “stringent hybridization wash conditions” in the context ofnucleic acid hybridization experiments, such as Southern and Northernhybridizations, are sequence dependent, and are different underdifferent environmental parameters. An extensive guide to thehybridization of nucleic acids is found in Tijssen, 1993, “LaboratoryTechniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology-Hybridization withNucleic Acid Probes,” Part I, Chapter 2 (Elsevier, N.Y.), which isincorporated herein by reference. For polynucleotides of at least 100nucleotides in length, low to very high stringency conditions aredefined as follows: prehybridization and hybridization at 42° C. in5×SSPE, 0.3% SDS, 200 μg/ml sheared and denatured salmon sperm DNA, andeither 25% formamide for low stringencies, 35% formamide for medium andmedium-high stringencies, or 50% formamide for high and very highstringencies, following standard Southern blotting procedures. Forpolynucleotides of at least 100 nucleotides in length, the carriermaterial is finally washed three times each for 15 minutes using 2×SSC,0.2% SDS at least at 50° C. (low stringency), at least at 55° C. (mediumstringency), at least at 60° C. (medium-high stringency), at least at65° C. (high stringency), and at least at 70° C. (very high stringency).

The terms “culturing” or “cultivation” refer to growing a population ofmicrobial cells under suitable conditions in a liquid or solid medium.

The term “contacting” refers to the placing of a respective enzyme insufficiently close proximity to a respective substrate to enable theenzyme to convert the substrate to a product. For example, combining asolution containing the enzyme with the respective substrate will effectcontacting. Such contacting also includes incubating a cell secreting anenzyme in a medium containing an enzyme substrate.

As used herein, reference to a cell “metabolizing” a soluble sugar orother substrate to produce an end product means the sugar serves as acarbon source and/or energy source for a metabolic reaction in the cell.Typically the cell is a microbial cell such as a fungal cell orbacterial cell.

As used herein the term “transformed” or “transformation” used inreference to a cell means a cell has a non-native nucleic acid sequenceintegrated into its genome or as an episomal plasmid that is maintainedthrough multiple generations.

The term “introduced” in the context of inserting a nucleic acidsequence into a cell means transfected, transduced or transformed(collectively “transformed”) or otherwise incorporated into the genomeof, or maintained as an episome in, the cell.

The term “operably linked” refers herein to a configuration in which acontrol sequence is appropriately placed at a position relative to thecoding sequence of the DNA sequence such that the control sequenceinfluences the expression of a polypeptide.

When used herein, the term “coding sequence” is intended to cover anucleotide sequence, which directly specifies the amino acid sequence ofits protein product. The boundaries of the coding sequence are generallydetermined by an open reading frame, which usually begins with the ATGstart codon. The coding sequence typically includes a DNA, cDNA, and/orrecombinant nucleotide sequence.

A promoter sequence, signal peptide, or other sequence is“heterologous”, when it is operably linked to a nucleic acid or proteinsequence with which the promoter, signal peptide or other sequence isnot associated in nature.

As used herein, the term “expression” includes any step involved in theproduction of the polypeptide including, but not limited to,transcription, post-transcriptional modification, translation,post-translational modification, and secretion.

The term “expression vector” refers herein to a DNA molecule, linear orcircular, that comprises a segment encoding a polypeptide of theinvention, and which is operably linked to additional segments thatprovide for its transcription.

A β-glucosidase variant polypeptide is “enzymatically active” when ithas β-glucosidase activity.

The term “pre-protein” refers to a protein including an amino-terminalsignal peptide (or leader sequence) region attached. The signal peptideis cleaved from the pre-protein by a signal peptidase prior to secretionto result in the “mature” or “secreted” protein.

As used herein, a “start codon” is the ATG codon that encodes the firstamino acid residue (methionine) of a protein.

In the context of sequence identity, a reference to “at least x %sequence identity” in this specification is intended, unless otherwisespecified, to refer to “x % sequence identity” as well as to alternativeembodiments in which % sequence identity is defined by each integer from(x+1) % to 99% identity, just as if each alternative embodiment wasexplicitly listed. For example, reference to “at least 70% sequenceidentity to SEQ ID NO:2”, or “amino acid residues 20-870 of SEQ IDNO:2”, refers to alternative embodiments with at least 71% sequenceidentity, at least 72% identity, at least 73% identity, at least 74%identity, at least 75% identity, at least 76% identity, at least 77%identity, at least 78% identity, at least 79% identity, at least 80%identity, at least 81% identity, at least 82% identity, at least 83%identity, at least 84% identity, at least 85% identity, at least 86%identity, at least 87% identity, at least 88% identity, at least 89%identity, at least 90% identity, at least 91% identity, at least 92%identity, at least 93% identity, at least 94% identity, at least 95%identity, at least 96% identity, at least 97% identity, at least 98%identity, or at least 99% identity to amino acid SEQ ID NO:2, orresidues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2. For an alignment that extends for theentire 851 amino acid length of residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2, theremay be at least 596 identities between a variant sequence and SEQ IDNO:2, sometimes at least 604, at least 613, at least 622, at least 630,at least 638, at least 647, at least 655, at least 664, at least 672, atleast 681, at least 723, at least 766, or at least 808 identities.

As used herein, “C1” refers to a fungal strain described by Garg, A.,1966, “An addition to the genus Chrysosporium Corda” Mycopathologia 30:3-4. “Chrysosporium lucknowense” includes the strains described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,015,707, 5,811,381 and 6,573,086; US Pat. Pub. Nos.2007/0238155, US 2008/0194005, US 2009/0099079; International Pat. Pub.Nos., WO 2008/073914 and WO 98/15633, and include, without limitation,Chrysosporium lucknowense Garg 27K, VKM-F 3500 D (Accession No. VKMF-3500-D), C1 strain UV13-6 (Accession No. VKM F-3632 D), C1 strainNG7C-19 (Accession No. VKM F-3633 D), and C1 strain UV18-25 (VKM F-3631D), all of which have been deposited at the All-Russian Collection ofMicroorganisms of Russian Academy of Sciences (VKM), Bakhurhina St. 8,Moscow, Russia, 113184, and any derivatives thereof. Although initiallydescribed as Chrysosporium lucknowense, C1 may currently be considered astrain of Myceliophthora thermophilia. Exemplary C1 derivatives includemodified organisms in which one or more endogenous genes or sequenceshas been deleted or modified and/or one or more heterologous genes orsequences has been introduced. Derivatives include UV18#100fΔalpl,UV18#100f Δpyr5 Δalpl, UV18#100.f Δalpl Δpep4 Δalp2, UV18#100.f Δpyr5Δalpl Δpep4 Δalp2 and UV18#100.f Δpyr4 Δpyr5 Δalp 1 Δpep4 Δalp2. asdescribed in WO2008073914, incorporated herein by reference.

The following nomenclature may by used to describe substitutions in apolypeptide or polynucleotide sequence relative to a reference sequence:“R-#-V,” where # refers to the position in the reference sequence, Rrefers to the amino acid (or base) at that position in the referencesequence, and V refers to the amino acid (or base) at the correspondingposition in the variant sequence. For example, for a variant polypeptidedescribed with reference to SEQ ID NO: 2, “D369L” indicates that in thevariant polypeptide, the aspartic acid at position 369 of the referencesequence is replaced by leucine, with amino acid position beingdetermined by optimal alignment of the variant sequence with SEQ IDNO:2. Similarly, “S182L/W” describes two variants: a variant in whichthe serine at position 182 is replaced by leucine, and a variant inwhich the serine at position 182 is replaced by tryptophan.

The following conventions are used to describe amino acid positions inBgl1 variants. Amino acid positions are numbered in relation thereference sequence SEQ ID NO: 2, which is the sequence of the wild-typeC1 Bgl1 pre-protein (including the signal peptide). Alignments todetermine a degree of sequence identity (e.g., “at least 70% identity”)or to describe deletions (e.g., deletions of residues at the c-terminusof the protein) are in relation to the secreted form of the wild-typeBgl1 protein, residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2. Nucleotide basesubstitutions are numbered relative to SEQ ID NO:1. Substitutions in thesignal peptide (residues 1-19 of SEQ ID NO: 2) refer to the sequence ofthe Bgl1 pre-protein.

II. Introduction

The fungus C1 produces a variety of cellulases and other enzymes thatact in concert to catalyze decrystallization and hydrolysis of celluloseto yield soluble sugars. C1 was described by Garg, 1966, “An addition tothe genus Chrysosporium corda” Mycopathologia 30: 3-4. Also see U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,015,707 and 6,573,086, which are incorporated herein byreference for all purposes.

The C1 genome has been at least partially sequenced, as indicated inU.S. patent publications US 2007/0238155, US 2008/0194005, and US2009/0099079, incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Thesequence of the C1 β-glucosidase 1 (bgl1) gene and the encoded protein(Bgl1) are set forth herein as SEQ ID NOs:1 and 2 (also see copendingapplication Nos. 61/247,379 and PCT/US10/50982, incorporated herein byreference). Note that these sequences differs from the Bgl1 sequences ofpatent publication US 2007/0238155.

The C1 β-glucosidase variants described herein are particularly usefulfor production of soluble sugars from cellulosic biomass. In one aspectthe invention relates to a method of producing glucose by contacting acomposition comprising cellobiose with a recombinantly expressed C1β-glucosidase variant under conditions in which the cellobiose isenzymatically converted to glucose. In one aspect, recombinant hostcells expressing a β-glucosidase variant may be combined with cellobioseunder conditions in which the β-glucosidase is expressed (and in someembodiments, secreted) by the cells. Alternatively, purified orpartially purified recombinant β-glucosidase protein may be contactedwith cellobiose. In one aspect of the present invention, contactingcomprises culturing a recombinant host cell in a medium that containscellobiose produced from a cellulosic feedstock. For example, the C1β-glucosidase variants described herein demonstrate benefit insaccharification reactions in conjunction with other cellulases, such asT. reesei cellulases (e.g., T. reesei CBH1, CBH2, and/or EG1 or variantsthereof, and/or T. reesei broth) and C1 cellulases (see U.S. Pat. Nos.6,015,707, 5,811,381 and 6,573,086; US Pat. Pub. Nos. 2007/0238155, US2008/0194005, US 2009/0099079; International Pat. Pub. Nos. WO2008/073914 and WO 98/15633, all incorporated herein by reference).

Various aspects of the invention are described in the followingsections.

III. Properties of β-Glucosidase Proteins for Use in Methods of theInvention

In one aspect, the invention provides a method for expressing aβ-glucosidase protein by culturing a host cell comprising a vector orepisomal plasmid comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a C1 Bgl1variant, or which has a nucleic acid sequence encoding a C1 Bgl1 variantintegrated into its genome, under conditions in which the β-glucosidaseprotein or an enzymatically active fragment thereof is expressed.Generally the expressed protein comprises a signal peptide which isremoved by the cell as the enzyme is secreted. In one embodiment,transcription of the sequence encoding the C1 Bgl1 variant is controlledby an operably linked heterologous promoter.

β-Glucosidase Polypeptide Variants

The present invention provides novel enzymes that are C1 β-glucosidase(Bgl1) variants. β-glucosidase polypeptide variants of the presentinvention are variants of Bgl1 that exhibit β-glucosidase activity,typically greater β-glucosidase activity than the wild-type C1β-glucosidase (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) especially underconditions relevant to commercial saccharification processes. Alsoincluded are β-glucosidase polypeptide variants that exhibit greaterstability under conditions relevant to commercial saccharificationprocesses (e.g., increased thermostability relative to wild-typeβ-glucosidase).

The present invention provides Bgl1 variants having greater activityand/or thermostability than the wild-type (WT) C1 Bgl1 protein andhaving at least one of the substitutions found in an increased-activityand/or increased-thermostability variant described herein. As isdiscussed in more detail below, a polynucleotide encoding the wild-type(WT) C1 Bgl1 protein (SEQ ID NO: 2) was prepared. The polynucleotide wasinserted into an expression vector as described in Example 1, infra,libraries of polynucleotides encoding variant Bgl1 proteins wereprepared by mutagenesis and directed evolution, and the properties(e.g., β-glucosidase activity and thermostability) of individual Bgl1variants were assessed (See Tables 2-7 and Examples 2-9, infra). Anumber of amino acid substitutions and combinations of substitutionswere identified in variants with greater than wild-type activity and/orgreater than wild-type thermostability. See Table 2. A variant withelevated activity and thermostability was selected and subjected tofurther mutagenesis and screening. See Table 3. A variant from thisround of mutagenesis and screening was selected and subjected to furthermutagenesis and screening. See Table 4. A variant from this furtherround of screening was selected and subjected to additional mutagenesisand screening. See Table 5. Two variants from this round of screeningwere selected and subjected to further mutagenesis and screening. SeeTables 6 and 7.

More specifically, the present invention provides an isolated and/orrecombinant β-glucosidase polypeptide variant having greater activityand/or thermostability than the wild-type C1 protein, and whichcomprises an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70% identical towild-type C1 β-glucosidase (Bgl1) (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) andhas at least one substitution of an amino acid residue at a positionselected from the group consisting of K57; A88; I106; N112; Q119; T120;A23; R132; Y135; A136; A141; K142; L149; G158; P161; P172; T177; I179;G180; M181; S182; E183; K186; A197; G202; Y219; N220; S222; T224; I229;M234; F242; A243; V246; Q258; D274; V286; Q291; Q313; V318; A343; T354;T357; D358; E360; D369; P374; I375; A378; Q381; E385; S388; V390; A394;N398; E402; K406; I428; S434; N437; E449; Q474; A475; T482; S489; Y491;K530; N536; T540; T565; V674; R682; 1867; E868; P870 (wherein amino acidposition is determined by optimal alignment with SEQ ID NO:2).“Substitution,” in this context, means that the residue in the variantprotein is other then the residue shown. For example, “A88” denotes avariant comprising an amino acid other than alanine at position 88(i.e., one of the other 19 naturally occurring amino acids). In someembodiments, the amino acid in the variant protein is neither thewild-type residue nor a residue that is a conservative substitute forthe wild-type residue. As discussed below, in this context, aconservative substitute for a residue is another residue in the samegroup identified in Table 1.

The present invention additionally provides an isolated and/orrecombinant β-glucosidase polypeptide variant having greater activityand/or thermostability than the (WT) C1 Bgl1 protein, wherein thevariant comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70%identical to wildtype C1 (Bgl1) (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2); has asubstitution at each of positions Q291, D369 and E402; and has at leastone substitution of an amino acid residue at a position selected fromthe group consisting of 1106, A109, Q119, T120, R132, Y135, M181, Q215,A243, V246, Q258, A265, D274, N278, Q313, F314, G332, T357, D358, P374,E385, S434, N437, A475, S489, Y491, E493, K495, K497, S501. A503E N504,A505, N521, K530, N536. T540, D566, T591, A601, K610, T611, R612, S614,L620, G628, T635, V638, V648, D650, S652, N670, R672, V674, S676, T685,T687, A689, Q690, T699, D703, K708, Y715, A732, E742, L757, V775, T777,and D781; (wherein amino acid position is determined by optimalalignment with SEQ ID NO:2). In some embodiments, the amino acid in thevariant protein is neither the wild-type residue nor a residue that is aconservative substitute for the wild-type residue. As discussed below,in this context, a conservative substitute for a residue is anotherresidue in the same group identified in Table 1.

The present invention additionally provides an isolated and/orrecombinant β-glucosidase polypeptide variant having greater activityand/or thermostability than the wild-type C1 Bgl1 protein, wherein thevariant comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70%identical to wild-type C1 β-glucosidase (Bgl1) (residues 20-870 of SEQID NO:2); has a substitution at each of positions Q258, Q291, Q313,D369, E402, S434, A475, K495, and G628; and has at least onesubstitution of an amino acid residue at a position selected from thegroup consisting of A4, A15, E21, S22, K24, V25, H26, Q27, P29, L30,N45, D47, Q55, S58, A79, Q85, I106, A109, Q119, Y135, A136, P161, V175,G180, G202, G216, I221, L237, D244, V253, V260, L275, D311, F314, A343,D358, E360, Q381, E385, A394, A404, A405, K421, I428, P436, N437, M454,D470, R476, A477, Q479, T482, Y491, E493, E494, T496, S501, A505, N536,V559, V562, N588, S604, R612, G616, A617, G626, N627, F634, D646, D650,S652, R672, V673, T685, T687, A689, Q690, K708, Y715, Q716, A732, A748,D751, L757K, S764, R769, V775, T777, T783, T785, S787, S799, P806, K807,R817, E819, E822, T823, V840, V846, 1847, S848, Y850, K866, and P870,(wherein amino acid position is determined by optimal alignment with SEQID NO:2). In some embodiments, the amino acid in the variant protein isneither the wild-type residue nor a residue that is a conservativesubstitute for the wild-type residue. As discussed below, in thiscontext, a conservative substitute for a residue is another residue inthe same group identified in Table 1.

The present invention additionally provides an isolated and/orrecombinant β-glucosidase polypeptide variant having greater activityand/or thermostability than the wild-type C1 Bgl1 protein, wherein thevariant comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70%identical to wild-type C1 β-glucosidase (Bgl1) (residues 20-870 of SEQID NO:2); has a substitution at each of positions Q258, Q291, Q313,D369, E402, S434, A475, K495, G628, A689, and Y715; and has at least onesubstitution of an amino acid residue at a position selected from thegroup consisting of C8, L9, K24, V25, D47, S58, A79, Q85, I106, A109,A136, V175, L237, A243, V253, V260, D274, L275, F314, A343, Q381, E385,P436, N437, Q474, R476, A505, S550, N588, S604, G616, G626, D650, D651,S652, V674, T687, Q690, D709, E710, A732, D733, Y736N, L757, S764, T777,T783, T785, K807, M816, D844, V846, L869, and P870 (wherein amino acidposition is determined by optimal alignment with SEQ ID NO:2). In someembodiments, the amino acid in the variant protein is neither thewild-type residue nor a residue that is a conservative substitute forthe wild-type residue. As discussed below, in this context, aconservative substitute for a residue is another residue in the samegroup identified in Table 1.

The present invention additionally provides an isolated and/orrecombinant β-glucosidase polypeptide variant having greater activityand/or thermostability than the wild-type C1 Bgl1 protein, wherein thevariant comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70%identical to wild-type C1 β-glucosidase (Bgl1) (residues 20-870 of SEQID NO:2); has a substitution at each of positions D47, Q258, Q291, Q313,A343, D369, E402, S434, A475, K495, G628, T687, A689, and Y715; and hasat least one substitution of an amino acid residue at a positionselected from the group consisting of A79, Q85, V260, L275, F314, D395,P439, A505, D646, T693, N723, A730, A732, S764, R769, T827, and Y855,(wherein amino acid position is determined by optimal alignment with SEQID NO:2). In some embodiments, the amino acid in the variant protein isneither the wild-type residue nor a residue that is a conservativesubstitute for the wild-type residue. As discussed below, in thiscontext, a conservative substitute for a residue is another residue inthe same group identified in Table 1.

The present invention additionally provides an isolated and/orrecombinant β-glucosidase polypeptide variant having greater activityand/or thermostability than the wild-type C1 Bgl1 protein, wherein thevariant comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70%identical to wild-type C1 β-glucosidase (Bgl1) (residues 20-870 of SEQID NO:2); has a substitution at each of positions I106, Q258, V260,Q291W, Q313, F314, D369, E402, S434, K495, G628, A689, Y715, and A732;and has at least one substitution of an amino acid residue at a positionselected from the group consisting of A109, A343, A475, A505, A689, A79,C8, D47, L275, N315, Q85, T591, and T687, (wherein amino acid positionis determined by optimal alignment with SEQ ID NO:2). In someembodiments, the amino acid in the variant protein is neither thewild-type residue nor a residue that is a conservative substitute forthe wild-type residue. As discussed below, in this context, aconservative substitute for a residue is another residue in the samegroup identified in Table 1.

TABLE 1 basic amino acids arginine, lysine, histidine acidic amino acidsglutamic acid, aspartic acid polar amino acids glutamine, asparaginehydrophobic amino acids leucine, isoleucine, valine aromatic amino acidsphenylalanine, tryptophan, tyrosine small amino acids glycine, alanine,serine, threonine, proline, cysteine, methionineIn some embodiments, the amino acid in the variant protein is neitherthe wild-type residue nor a residue that is a residue commonly exchangedwith the wild-type residue as defined by the following pairs: Ala/Ser,Val/Ile, Asp/Glu, Thr/Ser, Ala/Gly, Ala/Thr, Ser/Asn, Ala/Val, Ser/Gly,Tyr/Phe, Ala/Pro, Lys/Arg, Asp/Asn, Leu/Ile, Leu/Val, Ala/Glu, andAsp/Gly.

As summarized in Table 2, in certain embodiments, the present inventionprovides an isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidase polypeptidevariant comprising an amino acid sequence that has greater activityand/or thermostability than the wild-type wild-type C1 Bgl1 protein, isat least about 70% identical to wild-type C1 β-glucosidase (Bgl1)(residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2), and which has at least onesubstitution of an amino acid residue selected from the group consistingof K57R; A88S; I106V; N112V; Q119E/L; T120M/Y/V/H; A123N; R132K/G/W;Y135I/Q/M; A136E; A141F; K142R; L149Q/M; G158D; P161S; P172A; T177I;I179M; G180E; M181Y; S182L/W; E183G/M/Q/K; K186R; A197V; G202M/V; Y219V;N220Y/S/L; S222Q/E; T224N; 1229M; M234E/I; F242L; A243V; V246L; Q258N;D274Y/N; V286I; Q291W/A/F; Q313M; V318E; A343V/T; T354Q; T357L/P;D358K/N; E360R/A/D; P374Y; I375V; A378K/T; Q381V/D/I/L;D369Q/L/Y/C/A/I/P/E/K/R/F/M/H/V; E385L; S388W/C; V390I; A394G/V/L/P/Q;N398G; E402N; K406D; I428V; S434P; N437F/Y/D/L/W; E449Q; Q474I;A475F/Y/H/W/C; T482A; S489L; Y491H/F; K530M/G; N536K; T540K; T565A/G/P;V674I; R682W; I867M; E868R; P870S (wherein amino acid position isdetermined by optimal alignment with SEQ ID NO:2). Beneficialcombinations of the above-listed substitutions include any combinationof substitutions at any 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70,75, or more of the above-identified positions.

As summarized in Table 3, in certain embodiments, the present inventionprovides an isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidase polypeptidevariant comprising an amino acid sequence that has greater activityand/or thermostability than the wild-type C1 Bgl1 protein, wherein thevariant is at least about 70% identical to wild-type C1 (Bgl1) (residues20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2); has the substitutions Q291W, D369H/L/R/Y, andE402N; and has at least one substitution of an amino acid residue at aposition selected from the group consisting of A109S, A243V, A265S,A475C/F/L/W, A503E, A505C, A601T, A689I, A732G/M, D274Y, D358E/K/N,D566G, D650F/V, D703K, D781N, E385L, E493A/V/Y, E742G, F314L/V, G332D,G628L/V/W, I106V, K495F/H/I/N/Q/V, K497R, K530C/D/E/I/M/N/V, K610S,K708F, L620M, L757K, M181Y, N278Y, N437D/F/I/K/L/V/W/Y, N504Y, N521C,N536K, N670D, P374Y, Q119E, Q215E/M, Q258H/N, Q313M, Q690A/K/R, R132H,R612H/P, R672A/D/F/G/I/S/T/V, S434P, S489I/L/N/T, S501H/N/R,S614A/C/D/H/L/R/V/Y, S652D, S676C, S764F, T120H/Y, T357A, T540K,T591A/C/R, T611A/H/Q, T635A/l/V, T685V. T687C/F/K/L/M/W/Y, T699L, T777N,T779S, V2461, V638E/R/S, V648W, V674M, V775C, Y135Q, Y491F/H/L, andY715P; (wherein amino acid position is determined by optimal alignmentwith SEQ ID NO:2). Beneficial combinations of the above-listedsubstitutions include any combination of substitutions at any 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23,25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, or 70, or more of theabove-identified positions.

As summarized in Table 4, in certain embodiments, the present inventionprovides an isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidase polypeptidevariant comprising an amino acid sequence that has greater activityand/or thermostability than the wild-type C1 Bgl1 protein, is at leastabout 70% identical to wild-type C1 β-glucosidase (Bgl1) (residues20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2), has the substitutions Q258N, Q291W, Q313M,D369R, E402N, S434P, A475L, K495N, and G628W; and has at least onesubstitution selected from the group consisting of A4V, A15V, A109S/T,A136L, A343C, A394G, A404S, A405T, A477G, A505C, A617V, A6891,A732G/M/S, A748T, A79E/G/M, D244H, D311N, D358K, D470N, D471, D646N,D650F/N/Y, D751N, E21Q/R, E360D, E385L, E493A/V/Y, E494K, E819A/L/V,E822A/G/K/M, F314L/V, F634A, G180E, G202M, G216L, G616D, G626D, H26R,I106V, I221V, I428V, I847T, K24G/L/T, K421R, K708F, K807R, K866I/Q,L237Y, L275Y, L30K, L757K, M454E, N437W, N45H, N536K, N588F, N627H,P161S, P29M/Q/R, P436E/Q, P806L, P870S, Q119E, Q27H/R, Q381V, Q479R,Q55R, Q690A/H/K, Q716R, Q85N, R476Q, R612H, R672G, R769H, R817P, S22L/R,5501C/R, S58G, S6041, S652D, S764F, S787G, S799N, S848N, T482A, T496A,T685V, T687C/K/M, T777N, T783H/Q, T785L, T823K, V175A, V253F, V25A/G/R,V260G/L, V559T, V562C/L, V673A, V775C, V8401, V846F, Y135M/Q, Y491F,Y715P, and Y850H/Q, (wherein amino acid position is determined byoptimal alignment with SEQ ID NO:2). In some embodiments, the Bgl1polypeptide does not have a substitution at position A475. Beneficialcombinations of the above-listed substitutions include any combinationof substitutions at any 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70,75, 80, or more of the above-identified positions.

As summarized in Table 5, in certain embodiments, the present inventionprovides an isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidase polypeptidevariant comprising an amino acid sequence that has greater activityand/or thermostability than the wild-type C1 Bgl1 protein, is at leastabout 70% identical to wild-type C1 β-glucosidase (Bgl1) (residues20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2), has the substitutions Q258N, Q291W, Q313M,D369R, E402N, S434P, A475L, K495N, G628W, A6891, and Y715P; and has atleast one substitution selected from the group consisting of: C8A, L9F,K24G/T, V25A, D471/N, S58G, A79E/G/M, Q85H/N, I106V, A109S/T, A136L,V175A, L237Y, A243G, V253F, V260G, D274Y, L275F/Y, F314L/V, A343C/G,Q381V, E385L, P436Q, N437D/K, Q474I/L, R476G, A505C, S550C, N588F,S604A/C/I/V, G616D, G626D, D650N/Y, D651E, S652D, V674I, T687C/K/W,Q690H/K, D709E, E710G, A732G/M/V, D733G, Y736N, L757I/K, S764F, T777N,T783A, T785L, K807R, M816L, D844G, V846F/L/Q, L869R, and P870S (whereinamino acid position is determined by optimal alignment with SEQ IDNO:2). In some embodiments, the Bgl1 polypeptide variant does not have asubstitution at position A475. Beneficial combinations of theabove-listed substitutions include any combination of substitutions atany 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,21, 22, 23, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, or more of the above-identifiedpositions.

As summarized in Table 6, in certain embodiments, the present inventionprovides an isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidase polypeptidevariant comprising an amino acid sequence that has greater activityand/or thermostability than the wild-type C1 Bgl1 protein, is at leastabout 70% identical to wild-type C1 β-glucosidase (Bgl1) (residues20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2), has the substitutions D471, Q258N, Q291W, Q313M,A343C, D369R, E402N, S434P, A475L, K495N, G628W, T687K, A6891, Y715P;and has at least one substitution selected from the group consisting of:A79E/G/M, Q85N, V260G, L275Y, F314L/V, D395N, P439S, A505C, D646N,T693A/E, N723G, A730S, A732G/M/V, S764Y, R769H, T8271, and Y855,(wherein amino acid position is determined by optimal alignment with SEQID NO:2). In some embodiments, the Bgl1 variant polypeptide has thesubstitution T687K or T687W in place of T687K. In some embodiments, theBgl variant polypeptide does not have a substitution at position A475.Beneficial combinations of the above-listed substitutions include anycombination of substitutions at any 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,13, 14, or 15, or more of the above-identified positions.

As summarized in Table 7, in certain embodiments, the present inventionprovides an isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidase polypeptidevariant comprising an amino acid sequence that has greater activityand/or thermostability than the wild-type C1 Bgl1 protein, is at leastabout 70% identical to wild-type C1 β-glucosidase (Bgl1) (residues20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2), has the substitutions I106V, Q258N, V260G,Q291W, Q313M, F314L/V, D369R, E402N, S434P, K495N, G628W, A6891, Y715P,and A732G; and has at least one substitution selected from the groupconsisting of: A109S/T, A343C/G, A475L, A505C, A79E/G/M, C8G, D47I,L275F/Y, N315D, Q85H/N, and T591I, T687C/K/W, (wherein amino acidposition is determined by optimal alignment with SEQ ID NO:2). In someembodiments, the Bgl1 protein additionally has the substitution F314V.Beneficial combinations of the above-listed substitutions include anycombination of substitutions at any 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or12 or more of the above-identified positions.

The present invention further provides an isolated and/or recombinantβ-glucosidase polypeptide variant having greater activity and/orthermostability than the wild-type C1 Bgl1 protein and having an aminoacid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid that hybridizes under stringentconditions to the complement of SEQ ID NO:1 (e.g., over substantiallythe entire length of a nucleic acid exactly complementary to SEQ IDNO:1) wherein the encoded polypeptide has at least one substitution ofan amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of K57; A88;I106; N112; Q119; T120; A123; R132; Y135; A136; A141; K142; L149; G158;P161; P172; T177; I179; G180; M181; S182; E183; K186; A197; G202; Y219;N220; S222; T224; I229; M234; F242; A243; V246; Q258; D274; V2861; Q291;Q313; V318; A343; T354; T357; D358; E360; P374; 1375; A378; Q381; D369;E385L; S388; V390I; A394; N398; E402; K406; I428; S434; N437; E449Q;Q474I; A475; T482; S489; Y491; K530; N536; T540; T565; V674; R682; 1867;E868; P870 (wherein amino acid position is determined by optimalalignment with SEQ ID NO:2). Beneficial combinations of the above-listedsubstitutions include any combination of substitutions at any 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23,24, 25 or more of the above-identified positions.

The present invention further provides an isolated and/or recombinantβ-glucosidase polypeptide variant having greater activity and/orthermostability than the wild-type C1 Bgl1 protein and having an aminoacid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid that hybridizes under stringentconditions to the complement of SEQ ID NO:1 (e.g., over substantiallythe entire length of a nucleic acid exactly complementary to SEQ IDNO:1); wherein the encoded polypeptide has a substitution at each ofpositions Q291, D369 and E402; and has at least one substitution of anamino acid residue at a position selected from the group consisting ofI106, A109, Q119, T120, R132, Y135, M181, Q215, A243, V246, Q258, A265,D274, N278, Q313, F314, G332, T357, D358, P374, E385, S434, N437, A475,S489, Y491, E493, K495, K497, S501. A503E N504, A505, N521, K530, N536.T540, D566, T591, A601, K610, T611, R612, S614, L620, G628, T635, V638,V648, D650, S652, N670, R672, V674, S676, T685, T687, A689, Q690, T699,D703, K708, Y715, A732, E742, L757, V775, T777, and D781; (wherein aminoacid position is determined by optimal alignment with SEQ ID NO:2).Beneficial combinations of the above-listed substitutions include anycombination of substitutions at any 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or more of theabove-identified positions.

The present invention further provides an isolated and/or recombinantβ-glucosidase polypeptide variant having greater activity and/orthermostability than the WT C1 Bgl1 protein and having an amino acidsequence encoded by a nucleic acid that hybridizes under stringentconditions to the complement of SEQ ID NO:1 (e.g., over substantiallythe entire length of a nucleic acid exactly complementary to SEQ IDNO:1); wherein the encoded polypeptide has substitutions at each ofpositions Q258, Q291, Q313, D369, E402, S434, A475, K495, and G628; andhas at least one substitution of an amino acid residue at a positionselected from the group consisting of A4, A15, E21, S22, K24, V25, H26,Q27, P29, L30, N45, D47, Q55, S58, A79, Q85, I106, A109, Q119, Y135,A136, P161, V175, G180, G202, G216, I221, L237, D244, V253, V260, L275,D311, F314, A343, D358, E360, Q381, E385, A394, A404, A405, K421, I428,P436, N437, M454, D470, R476, A477, Q479, T482, Y491, E493, E494, T496,S501, A505, N536, V559, V562, N588, S604, R612, G616, A617, G626, N627,F634, D646, D650, S652, R672, V673, T685, T687, A689, Q690, K708, Y715,Q716, A732, A748, D751, L757K, S764, R769, V775, T777, T783, T785, S787,S799, P806, K807, R817, E819, E822, T823, V840, V846, I847, S848, Y850,K866, and P870; (wherein amino acid position is determined by optimalalignment with SEQ ID NO:2). Beneficial combinations of the above-listedsubstitutions include any combination of substitutions at any 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23,24, 25, or more of the above-identified positions.

The present invention further provides an isolated and/or recombinantβ-glucosidase polypeptide variant having greater activity and/orthermostability than the wild-type C1 Bgl1 protein and having an aminoacid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid that hybridizes under stringentconditions to the complement of SEQ ID NO:1 (e.g., over substantiallythe entire length of a nucleic acid exactly complementary to SEQ IDNO:1) wherein the encoded polypeptide has at least one substitution ofan amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of K57R; A88S;I106V; N112V; Q119E/L; T120M/Y/V/H; A123N; R132K/G/W; Y135I/Q/M; A136E;A141F; K142R; L149Q/M; G158D; P161S; P172A; T177I; I179M; G180E; M181Y;S182L/W; E183G/M/Q/K; K186R; A197V; G202M/V; Y219V; N220Y/S/L; S222Q/E;T224N; I229M; M234E/I; F242L; A243V; V246L; Q258N; D274Y/N; V286I;Q291W/A/F; Q313M; V318E; A343V/T; T354Q; T357L/P; D358K/N; E360R/A/D;P374Y; I375V; A378K/T; Q381V/D/I/L; D369Q/L/Y/C/A/I/P/E/K/R/F/M/H/V;E385L; S388W/C; V390I; A394G/V/L/P/Q; N398G; E402N; K406D; I428V; S434P;N437F/Y/D/L/W; E449Q; Q474I; A475F/Y/H/W/C; T482A; S489L; Y491H/F;K530M/G; N536K; T540K; T565A/G/P; V674I; R682W; I867M; E868R; P870S(wherein amino acid position is determined by optimal alignment with SEQID NO:2). Beneficial combinations of the above-listed substitutionsinclude any combination of substitutions at any 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 or moreof the above-identified positions.

The present invention further provides an isolated and/or recombinantβ-glucosidase polypeptide variant having greater activity and/orthermostability than the wild-type C1 Bgl1 protein and having an aminoacid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid that hybridizes under stringentconditions to the complement of SEQ ID NO:1 (e.g., over substantiallythe entire length of a nucleic acid exactly complementary to SEQ IDNO:1) wherein the encoded polypeptide has a substitution Q291W,D369H/L/R/Y, and E402N; and has at least one substitution of an aminoacid residue selected from the group consisting of A109S, A243V, A265S,A475C/F/L/W, A503E, A505C, A601T, A689I, A732G/M, D274Y, D358E/K/N,D369H/L/R/Y, D566G D650F/V, D703K, D781N, E385L, E402N, E493A/V/Y,E742G, F314V, G332D, G628L/V/W, I106V, K495F/H/I/N/Q/V, K497R,K530C/D/E/I/M/N/V, K610S, K708F, L620M, L757K, M181Y, N278Y,N437D/F/I/K/L/V/W/Y, N504Y, N521C, N536K, N670D, P374Y, Q119E, Q215E/M,Q258H/N, Q291W, Q313M, Q690A/K/R, R132H, R612H/P, R672A/D/F/G/I/S/T/V,S434P, S489I/L/N/T, S501H/N/R, S614A/C/D/H/L/R/V/Y, S652D, S676C S764F,T120H/Y, T357A, T540K, T591A/C/R, T611A/H/Q, T635A/I/V, T685V.T687C/F/K/L/M/W/Y, T699L, T777N, T779S, V246I, V638E/R/S, V648W, V674M,V775C, Y135Q, Y491F/H/L, and Y715P (wherein amino acid position isdetermined by optimal alignment with SEQ ID NO:2). Beneficialcombinations of the above-listed substitutions include any combinationof substitutions at any 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 or more of the above-identifiedpositions.

The present invention further provides an isolated and/or recombinantβ-glucosidase polypeptide variant having greater activity and/orthermostability than the wild-type C1 Bgl1 protein and having an aminoacid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid that hybridizes under stringentconditions to the complement of SEQ ID NO:1 (e.g., over substantiallythe entire length of a nucleic acid exactly complementary to SEQ IDNO:1) wherein the encoded polypeptide has a substitution at positionQ258N, Q291W, Q313M, D369R, E402N, S434P, A475L, K495N, and G628W; andhas at least one substitution selected from the group consisting of A4V,A15V, A109S/T, A136L, A343C, A394G, A404S, A405T, A477G, A505C, A617V,A689I, A732G/M/S, A748T, A79E/G/M, D244H, D311N, D358K, D470N, D47I,D646N, D650F/N/Y, D751N, E21Q/R, E360D, E385L, E493A/V/Y, E494K,E819A/L/V, E822A/G/K/M, F314L/V, F634A, G180E, G202M, G216L, G616D,G626D, H26R, I106V, I221V, I428V, I847T, K24G/L/T, K421R, K708F, K807R,K866I/Q, L237Y, L275Y, L30K, L757K, M454E, N437W, N45H, N536K, N588F,N627H, P161S, P29M/Q/R, P436E/Q, P806L, P870S, Q119E, Q27H/R, Q381V,Q479R, Q55R, Q690A/H/K, Q716R, Q85N, R476Q, R612H, R672G, R769H, R817P,S22L/R, S501C/R, S58G, S604I, S652D, S764F, S787G, S799N, S848N, T482A,T496A, T685V, T687C/K/M, T777N, T783H/Q, T785L, T823K, V175A, V253F,V25A/G/R, V260G/L, V559T, V562C/L, V673A, V775C, V8401, V846F, Y135M/Q,Y491F, Y715P, Y850H/Q, (wherein amino acid position is determined byoptimal alignment with SEQ ID NO:2). Beneficial combinations of theabove-listed substitutions include any combination of substitutions atany 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,21, 22, 23, 24, 25 or more of the above-identified positions. In certainembodiments, the C1 Bgl1 protein has the substitutions Q258N, Q291W,Q313M, D369L, E402N, S434P, A475L, K495N, and G628W.

It will be appreciated that Bgl1 variants of the invention may encompassadditional amino acid substitutions beyond those listed above (such asadditional conservative substitutions) and may be less-than-full lengthcompared to wild-type C1 Bgl1 protein. Thus, Bgl1 variants of theinvention may comprise insertions or deletions (e.g., truncation at theamino- and/or carboxy-termini) relative to residues 20-870 of SEQ IDNO:2. The wild-type secreted form of C1 Bgl1 protein is about 851 aminoacids in length; variants of the present invention may be longer orshorter than wild-type. For illustration and not limitation, in someembodiments the variant may be longer or shorter by up to 10% of thewild-type length, sometimes up to 5%, sometimes up to 4%, sometimes upto 3%, sometimes up to 2%, sometimes up to 1%.

Sequence-activity analysis of variants was performed in accordance withthe methods described in WO 03/075129, U.S. Ser. No. 10/379,378 filedMar. 3, 2003; R. Fox et al., 2003, “Optimizing the search algorithm forprotein engineering by directed evolution,” Protein Eng. 16(8):589-597,and R. Fox et al., 2005, “Directed molecular evolution by machinelearning and the influence of nonlinear interactions,” J. Theor. Biol.234(2):187-199, all of which are incorporated herein by reference, toidentify substitutions with likely the most significant effects onactivity.

Certain β-glucosidase variants of the present invention have an aminoacid sequence that includes at least one substitution of an amino acidresidue selected from the group consisting of Q119E; R132H; Y135Q;G180E; G202M/V; Q258N; D274Y; Q291W/A/F; D358K/N;D369L/Y/V/A/H/R/F/E/M/I/K/C/P/Q; P374Y; E385L; A394L; E402N; S434P;N437F/D/L/W/Y; Q474I; A475F/Y/H/C/W; T482A; S489L; K530M; N536K; T540K,which are predicted to be highly beneficial substitutions for increasingβ-glucosidase activity.

Certain β-glucosidase variants of the present invention have an aminoacid sequence that includes the substitutions Q291W+D369L+E402N (asfound in Variant 3), or the substitutions Q291W+D369H/L/R/Y+E402N. Insome embodiments, the sequence includes at least one substitution of anamino acid residue selected from the group consisting of Q258N/H,D358K/N, I106V, E385L, D274Y, K495H/I/N/Q, Q119E, Y135Q, G628W, R132H,N437I, S501R, P374Y, N437V, S614A, Q313M, L369H, S434P, N437W/D, andY491 F. In some embodiments, the at least one substituted amino acidresidue is Q258N. In some embodiments, the at least one substitutedamino acid residue is D358K or Q258H. In some embodiments, the at leastone substituted amino acid residue is I106V, E385L, D274Y, or K495H. Insome embodiments, the at least one substituted amino acid residue isK4951/N, Q119E, Y135Q, or D358N. In some embodiments, the at least onesubstituted amino acid residue is G628W, R132H, K495Q, N437I, S501R, orP374Y. In some embodiments, the at least one substituted amino acidresidue is N437V, S614A, Q313M, L369H, S434P, N437W/D, or Y491 F. Thesesubstitutions are predicted to be highly beneficial substitutions forincreasing β-glucosidase activity.

Certain β-glucosidase variants of the present invention have an aminoacid sequence that includes the substitutions Q258N, Q291W, Q313M,D369R, E402N, S434P, A475L, K495N, and G628W (as found in Variant 269).and least one substitution of an amino acid residue selected from thegroup consisting of Y715P, S764F, E385D/L, A732G/M, A689I, A109T,T687M/C/K, L757K, Q381V/D, A109S, T777N, I106V, T823K, Q716R, V846F,T685V, T687K, D650Y, F314V/L, S652D, and I428V. In some embodiments, theat least one substituted amino acid residue is Y715P. In someembodiments, the at least one substituted amino acid residue is S764F,E385L, A732G, A689I, or A109T, or E285D. In some embodiments, the atleast one substituted amino acid residue is T687M, A732M, or L757K. Insome embodiments, the at least one substituted amino acid residue isQ381V, A109S, T777N, I106V, T823K, T687C, or Q716R. In some embodiments,the at least one substituted amino acid residue is V846F, T685V, T687K,D650Y, F314V/L, S652D, Q381D, or I428V. These substitutions, arepredicted to be highly beneficial substitutions for increasingβ-glucosidase activity.

Certain β-glucosidase variants of the present invention have an aminoacid sequence that includes the substitutions Q258N, Q291W, Q313M,D369R, E402N, S434P, A475L, K495N, G628W, A6891, and Y715P (as found inVariant 481); or the substitutions 258N, Q291W, Q313M, D369R, E402N,S434P, K495N, G628W, A689I, and Y715P; and least one substitution of anamino acid residue selected from the group consisting of A79E/M/G, Q85N,I106V, A109S/T, V260G, F314L/V, A343C/G, A505C, T687K/W/C, andA732G/M/V. In some embodiments, the at least one substituted amino acidresidue is T687W. In some embodiments, the at least one substitutedamino acid residue is T687C or T687W, V260G, A343C, A732G, or A109T. Insome embodiments, the at least one substituted amino acid residue isF314V/L, A732M/V, A109S, or A343G. In some embodiments, the at least onesubstituted amino acid residue is A79E, A505C, I106V, or A79M/G. In someembodiments, the variant These substitutions, are predicted to be highlybeneficial substitutions for increasing β-glucosidase activity.

Certain β-glucosidase variants of the present invention have an aminoacid sequence that includes the substitutions D471, Q258N, Q291W, Q313M,A343C, D369R, E402N, A475L, S434P, K495N, G628W, T687K, A689I, and Y715P(as found in Variant 647) or the substitutions D471, Q258N, Q291W,Q313M, A343C, D369R, E402N, S434P, A475L, K495N, G628W, T687W, A689I,and Y715P; or the substitutions D471, Q258N, Q291W, Q313M, A343C, D369R,E402N, S434P, K495N, G628W, T687K/W/C, A689I, and Y715P; and least onesubstitution of an amino acid residue selected from the group consistingof A79G/E/M, Q85N, V260G, L275Y, and F314L/V, and A732G/M. In someembodiments, the at least one substituted amino acid residue is A79E,A79M, A79G, A732G, V260G, or F314L. In some embodiments, the at leastone substituted amino acid residue is Q85N, F314V, or A732M. Thesesubstitutions, are predicted to be highly beneficial substitutions forincreasing β-glucosidase activity.

Certain β-glucosidase variants of the present invention have an aminoacid sequence that includes the substitutions I106V, Q258N, V260G,Q291W, Q313M, F314L/V, D369R, E402N, S434P, K495N, G628W, A6891, Y715P,and A732G (as found in Variant 664) and least one substitution of anamino acid residue selected from the group consisting of D471, A79G/E/M,A109T, A505C, A343C/G, T687W/C/K, N315D, and L275F. In some embodiments,the at least one substituted amino acid residue is A79E or A79G. In someembodiments, the at least one substituted amino acid is A109T, A79M,A505C, or A343C. In some embodiments, the at least one substituted aminoacid is T687W, T687C, D471, T687K N315D, or A343G. These substitutions,are predicted to be highly beneficial substitutions for increasingβ-glucosidase activity.

Certain β-glucosidase variants of the present invention have an aminoacid sequence that includes at least one substitution of an amino acidresidue selected from the group consisting of I106V; A123N; G180E;M181Y; M234E; Q258N; Q291W/F/A; T357L/P; D358K; E360D;D369L/V/C/Y/R/K/M/A/H/E/F/Q/P/I; P374Y; E385L; A394G; N437D/L; T482A;S489L; K530M; N536K; T540K, which are predicted to be highly beneficialsubstitutions for increasing thermostability.

Certain β-glucosidase variants of the present invention have an aminoacid sequence that includes the substitutions Q291W, D369H/L/R/Y, andE402N; and at least one substitution of an amino acid residue selectedfrom the group consisting of Q313M, Q258N/H, N536K, Q119E, S489I/N/L/T,T120Y, K495N/V/I/H/Q, I106V, T120H, N437I/D/W/F/K/L/V/Y, E385L, M181Y,D274Y, S434P, S501R, T591C, Y135Q, Y491H/F, T540K, N521C, T591R, G628W,and A475L. In some embodiments, the at least one substituted amino acidresidue is Q313M or Q258N. In some embodiments, the at least onesubstituted amino acid residue is N4371, K495N, Q258H, or N536K. In someembodiments, the at least one substituted amino acid residue is Q119E,S4891, T120Y, K495V, S489L, I106V, T120H, or N437D. In some embodiments,the at least one substituted amino acid residue is N437W, K495I, N437F,E385L, K495H, N437K, N437L, S489T, M181Y, D274YS434P, or N437V. In someembodiments, the at least one substituted amino acid residue is S501R,T591C, Y135q, Y491H, R491F, T540K, N521C, T591R, K495K, G628W, N437Y,S489N, or A475L. These substitutions are predicted to be highlybeneficial substitutions for increasing thermostability.

Certain β-glucosidase variants of the present invention have an aminoacid sequence that includes the substitutions Q258N, Q291W, Q313M,D369R, Q381V, E385L, E402N, S434P, A475L, K495N, and G628W; and leastone substitution of an amino acid residue selected from the groupconsisting of S764F, Y715P, E385L/D, A732G/M, A109T/S, T687M/C/K, T777N,I106V, L475A, F314V, D650Y, L757K. Q716R, T685V, or F314L. In someembodiments, the at least one substituted amino acid residue is S764F orY715P. In some embodiments, the at least one substituted amino acidresidue is E385L or A732G. In some embodiments, the at least onesubstituted amino acid residue is A109T or T687M. In some embodiments,the at least one substituted amino acid residue is T777N, I106V, !732M,T687C, T687K, E385D, L475A or A109S. In some embodiments, the at leastone substituted amino acid residue is P720P, F314V, D650Y, L757K, Q716R,T685V, or F314L. These substitutions are are predicted to be highlybeneficial substitutions for increasing thermostability.

Certain β-glucosidase variants of the present invention have an aminoacid sequence that includes the substitutions Q258N, Q291W, Q313M,D369R, E402N, S434P, A475L, K495N, G628W, A689I and 715P (as found inVariant 481); and least one substitution of an amino acid residueselected from the group consisting of D471, A79E, Q85N, I106V, A109S/T,V260G, L275Y, F314L/V, A505C, T687W/C/K, and A732G/M/V. In someembodiments, the at least one substituted amino acid residue isT687K/W/C. In some embodiments, the at least one substituted amino acidis I106V, V260G, F314V, A732G, A109T, F314L, A732M, Q85N, or A109S. Insome embodiments, the at least one substituted amino acid is F314,A732V, A505C, D471, L275Y, or A79E. These substitutions are arepredicted to be highly beneficial substitutions for increasingthermostability.

Certain β-glucosidase variants of the present invention have an aminoacid sequence that includes the substitutions D47I, Q258N, Q291W, Q313M,A343C, D369R, E402N, S434P, A475L, K495N, G628W, T687K/W, A689I, andY715P (as found in Variant 647); or the substitutions D47I, Q258N,Q291W, Q313M, A343C, D369R, E402N, S434P, K495N, G628W, T687K/W, A689I,and Y715P; and least one substitution of an amino acid residue selectedfrom the group consisting of A79E/G/M, Q85N, V260G, L275Y, F314V/L,D395N, and A732G, which are predicted to be highly beneficialsubstitutions for increasing thermostability. In some embodiments, theat least one substituted amino acid residue is A79M, F314V, or A79G. Insome embodiments, the at least one substituted amino acid residue isA79E, F314L, V260G, A85N, D395N, or A732G.

Certain β-glucosidase variants of the present invention have an aminoacid sequence that includes the substitutions I106V, Q258N, V260G,Q291W, Q313M, F314L/V, D369R, E402N, S434P, K495N, G628W, A6891, Y715P,and A732G (as found in Variant 664) and least one substitution of anamino acid residue selected from the group consisting of A109S/T,A79G/E/M, D47I, Q85N/H, L314V, and T591I. In some embodiments, the atleast one substituted amino acid residue is A109S, A79G, A109T, or A79E.In some embodiments, the at least one substituted amino acid residue isD47I, A79M, A85N, or A85H. These substitutions, are predicted to behighly beneficial substitutions for increasing thermostability.

Certain β-glucosidase variants of the present invention have an aminoacid sequence that includes at least one substitution of an amino acidresidue at a position selected from the group consisting of G180E;Q258N; Q291W/A/F; D358K; D369L/Y/V/A/H/R/F/E/M/I/K/C/P/Q; P374Y; E385L;N437D/L; T482A; S489L; K530M; N536K; and T540K, which are predicted tobe highly beneficial substitutions for increasing both thermostabilityand β-glucosidase activity.

Certain β-glucosidase variants of the present invention have an aminoacid sequence that includes Q291W, D369H/L/R/Y, and E402N; and least onesubstitution of an amino acid residue selected from the group consistingof Q258N/H, I106V, E385L, D274Y, K495H/I/N/Q, Q119E, Y135Q, G628W,N437I/V/W/D, S501R, Q313M, S434P, and Y491F, which are predicted to behighly beneficial substitutions for increasing both thermostability andβ-glucosidase activity.

Certain β-glucosidase variants of the present invention have an aminoacid sequence that includes Q258N, Q291W, Q313M, D369R, E402N, S434P,A475L, K495N, and G628W; or Q258N, Q291W, Q313M, D369R, E402N, S434P,K495N, and G628W; and least one substitution of an amino acid residueselected from the group consisting of S764F, Y715P, E385L/D, A732G/M,A109T/S, T687M/C/K, T777N, I106V, F314V, D650Y, L757K. Q716R, T685V, andF314L. the substitutions are predicted be highly beneficialsubstitutions for increasing both thermostability and β-glucosidaseactivity.

Certain β-glucosidase variants of the present invention have an aminoacid sequence that includes Q258N, Q291W, Q313M, D369R, E402N, S434P,A475L, K495N, G628W, A689I and 715P (as found in Variant 481); and leastone substitution of an amino acid residue selected from the groupconsisting of A79E, Q85N, T687K/W/C, I106V, A109T/S, V260G, F314V/L,A505C, and A732G/M/V. The substitutions are predicted be highlybeneficial substitutions for increasing both thermostability andβ-glucosidase activity.

Certain β-glucosidase variants of the present invention have an aminoacid sequence that includes D47I, Q258N, Q291W, Q313M, A343C, D369R,E402N, S434P, A475L, K495N, G628W, T687K/W, A689I, and Y715P (as foundin Variant 647); or the D47I, Q258N, Q291W, Q313M, A343C, D369R, E402N,S434P, K495N, G628W, T687K/W, A6891, and Y715P; and least onesubstitution of an amino acid residue selected from the group consistingof A79E/G/M, Q85N, V260G, F314V/L, A732G, and L275Y. In someembodiments, the substituted amino acid residue is A79E, A79M, A79G,Q85N, V260G, F314V, F314L, or A732G. The substitutions are predicted behighly beneficial substitutions for increasing both thermostability andβ-glucosidase activity.

Certain β-glucosidase variants of the present invention have an aminoacid sequence that includes the substitutions I106V, Q258N, V260G,Q291W, Q313M, F314L/V, D369R, E402N, S434P, K495N, G628W, A6891, Y715P,and A732G (as found in Variant 664) and least one substitution of anamino acid residue selected from the group consisting of D47I, A79E/M/G,and A109T, which are predicted be highly beneficial substitutions forincreasing both thermostability and β-glucosidase activity.

Notably, a number of variants with superior activity and/orthermostability comprise substitutions at position 369, with 14different alternative (i.e., non-aspartic acid) residues appearing inbeneficial variants. Substitutions at position 369 are predicted toincrease activity and/or thermostability. Thus, in one aspect theinvention provides an isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidasepolypeptide variant comprising an amino acid sequence that is at leastabout 70% identical to wild-type C1 β-glucosidase (Bgl1) (residues20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) wherein the amino acid at position 369 is notaspartic acid. In some embodiments the amino acid at position 369 isselected from the group consisting of Q, L, Y, C, A, 1, P, E, K, R, F,M, H, and V. In some embodiments the amino acid at position 369 is L(leucine), which appears particularly beneficial for β-glucosidase andthermostability.

A number of variants with superior activity and/or thermostabilitycomprise substitutions at position 291. Substitutions at position 291are predicted to increase activity and/or thermostability. Thus, in oneaspect the invention provides an isolated and/or recombinantβ-glucosidase polypeptide variant comprising an amino acid sequence thatis at least about 70% identical to wild-type C1 β-glucosidase (Bgl1)(residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) wherein the amino acid at position 291is not glutamine. In some embodiments the amino acid at position 291 isW, A, or F. In some embodiments the amino acid at position 369 is W(tryptophan), which appears particularly beneficial for β-glucosidaseand thermostability.

A number of variants with superior activity and/or thermostabilitycomprise substitutions at position 402. Substitutions at position 402are predicted to increase activity and/or thermostability. Thus, in oneaspect the invention provides an isolated and/or recombinantβ-glucosidase polypeptide variant comprising an amino acid sequence thatis at least about 70% identical to wild-type C1 β-glucosidase (Bgl1)(residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) wherein the amino acid at position 402is not glutamic acid. In some embodiments, the amino acid is neitherglutamic acid nor aspartic acid. In some embodiments, the amino acid isnot glutamic acid, aspartic acid, or proline. In some embodiments, theamino acid at position 402 is asparagine, glutamine, histidine, lysine,or arginine. In some embodiments, the amino acid at position 402 isasparagine or glutamine. In some embodiments the amino acid at position402 is N (asparagine), which appears particularly beneficial forβ-glucosidase and thermostability.

In some embodiments, the isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidasepolypeptide variant of the present invention is at least about 70%identical to wild-type C1 Bgl1 (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) andcomprises a substitution set selected from the group consisting of:

M181Y+Q291W+E402N+S434P; R132K+L149M+Q313M+D369L+E385L+N437D;Q291W+D369L+E402N; Y135I+Q258N+Q474I;M181Y+Q291W+E360D+D369V+P374Y+T482A; Q258N+N437F+S489L+Y491H;Q119E+Q258N+T357L+Q474I+S489L; Q258N+D369R+S489L+Y491H;N220Y+Q258N+T357L+D369R+Q474I+Y491F;M234E+V246L+D358K+D369L+N398G+K530M; Y135Q+I229M+F242L+D369L+K530M;D369Q+P374Y+E402N+T540K;Y135Q+P172A+I179M+I229M+Q291A+D358K+D369L+N398G; R132K+D369L+E385L;Y135M+I179M+Q291A+D358K+D369L; Q291W+P374Y+E402N+S434P;Q119E+N220Y+Q258N+T357L+S489L; I179M+Q291A+D358K+D369L+I375V+S388W;Q291W+D369C; R132K+T354Q+D369L+N437L; Q291A+D369L+N398G+K530M;Q119E+Q258N+D274Y+S489L; Q119E+N220Y+Q258N+Q474I+S489L; M181Y+D369L;T120M+S222E+Q313M+T354Q+D369L+E385L;A4G+Q258N+D274Y+T357L+N437W+Q474I+Y491H; R132G+D369L+N437D;S182L+Q313M+D369L+E385L; R132G+D369L+E385L;N112V+D358K+D369L+S388W+K530M; I106V+G180E+D369L+Q381V;I179M+Q291A+D369L; I179M+D358K+D369L+S388W; M234E+Q291A+D369L+N398G;I179M+Q291A+D358K+D369L+Q381I; Y135Q+N220L+Q291A+D369L+N398G;Y135I+D369L; S182L+D369L+E385L+N437L; T120Y+R132K+D369L+N437D;M234E+D369L+S388W+N398G+K530M; Y135M+I179M+D369L+V390I+K530M;L149Q+A197V+Q313M+D369L; T120M+R132K+D369L+N437L;T120M+R132W+L149M+Q313M+T354Q+D369L+E385L+N437D;A4G+Y135I+N220Y+Q258N+T357P+N437Y; D358K+D369L+S388W; Q258N+D274Y+N437F;D369L+S434P+T540K; G158D+I179M+Q291A+D358K+D369L+I375V+N398G+K530M;Y135I+D274Y+D369R; Q258N+D369L+Q474I+S489L+Y491F;R132W+S182W+D369L+E385L; S182L+T354Q+D369L+E385L;S222Q+T354Q+D369L+E385L+N437D+T565G;Y135M+P161S+Q291A+A343T+D369L+I375V+K406D; Q291W+D369C+T540K;D369L+P374Y+E402N; Y135I+A343V+D369F+S489L; M234E+D358K+D369L+S388W;T120M+L149Q+D369L+E385L; Q313M+D369L+E385L; T120Y+D369L+E385L;D369L+N437D+T565A; N112V+Q291A+D369L+I375V;R132W+L149Q+Q313M+T354Q+D369L; Y135M+D369L+I375V+N398G; D369L+E385L;T120M+S182L+Q313M+T354Q+D369L+E385L; T177I+Q291W+P374Y+T482A;Q258N+N437F; T120V+R132W+D369L+T565G;N112V+Q291A+D358N+D369E+S388C+K406D; Q291A+D358K+D369L+S388W+K406D;I106V+E360R+D369L+Q381V; M234E+Q291A+D369L+S388W+N398G;L149M+Q313M+D369L; M234I+Q291W+E360D+D369V+T482A;T120V+T354Q+D369L+E385L+T565P; M234I+Q291W+E360D+S434P;D369Y+I867M+E868R; R132W+S182L+Q313M+D369L; M234I+Q291W+P374Y+T482A;Y219V+M234I+D369C+P374Y+S434P; S182L+Q313M+D369L+E385L+N437L;M234E+D358K+D369L+S388W+K530M; R132G+S222E+D369L+E385L;R132K+L149M+S182L+D369L+N437L; T120H+Q313M+D369L; R132W+D369L;D369L+P374Y; N112V+N220L+Q291A+D369L+S388W+N398G;Q291A+D369L+I375V+K530G; R132K+L149M+S182L+T354Q+D369L+N437D+T565G;T120H+S222E+Q313M+D369L+N437D+T565G; A123N+Q291W+T482A+T540K;S222E+Q313M+T354Q+D369L+E385L; R132W+D369L+T565G;G202M+E360A+D369I+A394L; R132G+S222Q+Q313M+D369L; R132W+L149M+D369L;L149M+Q313M+T354Q+D369L; Q119L+G202M+D369L; M181Y+M234I+D369C;I179M+N220L+Q291A+D369L+I375V; S222E+Q313M+D369L+E385L+N437L;I179M+M234E+D358K+D369L+S388W+N398G;A123N+Y219V+Q291W+E360D+P374Y+S434P; D369L+E402N; D369L;Y219V+M234I+Q291W+T482A; Q291W+E360D+S434P; D369L+S434P;G180E+E360R+D369L; A123N+M181Y+Q291W+D369K+S434P+T540K;Q119E+T357L+D369M+S489L; Q119E+D369F+Y491H; Q119L+D369L;Q119E+N220Y+V286I+S489L; Q291A+D369L+Q381I; A475F; D369L+N536K;Q119E+Y135I+D369H; Q258N+S489L; Q119E+Y135I+N437Y;Q119E+Y135I+N437F+Y491F; Q119L+D369L+A394V; E183G+E360A+D369L+I428V;D369L+E449Q+N536K; Q119L+G202M+E360A+A475F; I106V+D369L; Y135I+D369M;M234I+D369C+S434P; D369L+A475Y; Q119E+Y135I+S489L; D369Y+N536K;E360R+D369L; G202V+A475H; D369L+Q381V+N536K; N220Y+Q258N+S489L+Y491F;Q258N+T357L+D369M; I179M+Q291A+D369L+Q381L+S388W+N398G;D369Y+A394G+N536K; Q291W+E360D+D369V+P374Y;T120M+L149Q+T354Q+D369L+E385L; S489L+Y491H; N220S+Q291F+D369L;D369C+S434P+T540K; V318E+D369L+I428V;E183M+G202M+E360A+D369L+A378K+A394V; A394G+N536K; Q291W+T540K;N220L+Q291A+D369L+Q381L+S388W+K530M; T120V+R132W+E385L+N437D;Q119L+E360A+D369L+A378K; D369A+N536K; G202V+D369L+A475H;Q381V+A475Y+N536K; S434P; I106V+G180E+D369Y+A394G; G180E+Q381V+A475H;Q119E+N220Y+Q474I; I106V+D369Q; A475Y+N536K;K142R+Y219V+Q291W+S434P+V674I; L149Q+S182L+Q313M+D369L+N437L;N112V+I179M+M234E+D369L+N398G; E360A+D369L+A378K; E360R+D369Y+N536K;E360R+D369A+Q381V+N536K; D369L+Q381D; N437F+S489L;E183M+G202M+V318E+D369I+A394L+I428V; E360D+D369L+E402N+S434P;Q119L+A141F+G202M+A394L+I428V+A475F; T357L+D369R+S489L+Y491H;Y135I+Q258N+T357L; K142R+Q291W+E360D+D369C+E402N;E183M+A243V+D369L+A378K+A475F; R132K+L149M+E385L; D369Y;M234I+E402N+S434P; N437Y; Q119E+N437F; N536K; Q119L+E183Q+G202M+D369P;N112V+I179M+Q291A+D358K+K406D; A123N+Q291W+T540K; D369I+A394L+I428V;A88S+N536K; Q119E+Y135I+N437F; A141F+G202M+E360A+D369P+A378K;A123N+T482A; Q313M+N437D; E360R+D369Y; E183M+G202M+A475F;Q119L+E360A+A394V+A475F; D369L+A378K; E360R+D369L+A394G;M181Y+D369E+S434P; D369I; N112V+Y135Q+I375V+K406D+K530M+P870S;Q119E+Y135I+N220Y+Q258N; D369P+A394V+I428V; V318E+D369L; K186R+N536K;Q119L+D369L+A378K; M234I+D369K+S434P;N112V+I179M+N220L+Q291A+Q381I+S388W+N398G; E402N+S434P;Q119L+A141F+G202M+A394Q; Q313M+T354Q+N437D;N112V+M234E+D369L+I375V+K406D; Q119E+A136E+N220Y; Q381D+A394G+N536K;Q119L+E183G+D369Q+A378T+V390I; Y135I+T357L+Q474I+S489L+Y491F;D369E+A394P+I428V; N112V+Q291A+Q381I+N398G; E360R+N536K; E360D+D369C;R132W+S182L+E385L; I179M+Q291A+D358K+N398G+K530G; N220Y+Q258N+T357L;T224N+D274Y+T357L+N437F; N437D; M234I+E360D+T482A;A141F+G202M+D274N+V318E+E360A+I428V; D369Q;N112V+N220L+D358K+D369L+I375V+Q381I+N398G; Y135I+D369F;A243V+V318E+E360A+A475W; N220L+D369L+Q381L+S388W+N398G+K530G; S489L;K142R+Y219V; Y135I+N220Y+Y491F; S182W+T354Q+E385L; I179M+D358K+S388W;L149M+Q313M+T565P; R132G+E385L; V318E; Q119L+E183K; R132W+E385L;E183G+V318E+E360A+A394Q+A475C; E183M+G202M+E360A; A394G; D369P;Y135M+Q291A+S388W+N398G; Y219V+D369C; A394V+I428V; Q119L; Y135I;E360R+D369Q+Q381D+N536K; N220L+M234E+Q291A+I375V+K530M;Q119L+G202M+E360A; N220Y+Q258N+D369R; M181Y+M234I+Q291W+E402N; A394V;T120M+L149Q+Q313M; Q119L+V318E+I428V; E360R+Q381V;K57R+G202M+E360A+A394V; I179M+D358K+I375V+Q381L; E360A; I179M+R682W;E360A+I428V; and D369K+P374Y (where amino acid position is determined byoptimal alignment with SEQ ID NO:2).

In some embodiments, the isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidasepolypeptide variant of the present invention is at least about 70%identical to wild-type C1 Bgl1 (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) andcomprises a substitution set selected from the group consisting of:

I106V+Q258N+Q291W+D369L+E402N+S434P;I106V+Y135Q+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369H+E402N+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;I106V+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369H+E402N+S434P+A475C+K495I+T540K+G628W;I106V+Q258N+Q291W+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495H+G628L;D274Y+Q291W+D358K+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437I+S489N;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369H+E402N+S434P+T540K;I106V+Q258N+Q291W+D369L+E402N+S434P+A475F+K495H+G628V;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369L+E402N+S434P+A475C+K495I+G628W;I106V+Y135Q+M181Y+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369L+E402N+S434P+K495N;Y135Q+Q258N+Q291W+D369L+E402N+K495N;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D358K+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437V+S489N+S614A;Y135Q+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369L+E402N+S434P+A475F+K495N+G628V;R132H+Q258N+Q291W+D369Y+E402N+K495Q;Y135Q+Q258N+Q291W+D369L+E402N+S434P+A475F+K495H;Y135Q+Q258N+Q291W+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495I+G628V;I106V+M181Y+Q258N+Q291W+D369L+E402N;I106V+Q258N+Q291W+D369H+E402N+S434P+A475F+K495F+G628V;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369L+E402N+S434P+G628V;Q258N+Q291W+D369L+E402N+A475F+K4951;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437I;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L;Q258N+Q291W+D369Y+E402N+S434P+K495H+G628W;D274Y+Q291W+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437I+S489N+K530C;I106V+Y135Q+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369Y+E402N+S434P+A475F+K495H+T540K;Q119E+Q291W+D358K+D369L+E385L+E402N;I106V+M181Y+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369H+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495Q+G628V;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D358N+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437D;Q258N+Q291W+D369R+E402N+S434P+G628V;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369H+E402N+S434P+G628L; Q258N+Q291W+D369L+E402N;D274Y+Q291W+D358K+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437F+S614D;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D358N+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437L+K530V;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D358N+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437V+S489L+K530N;Q258N+Q291W+D369L+E402N+S434P+A475F+K495F+T540K;M181Y+Q291W+Q313M+D369Y+E402N;A243V+D274Y+Q291W+D358K+D369L+E402N+N437I+K530C;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D358E+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437V+K530V+S614A;Q291W+D358K+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437W+K530C+S614A;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437W;D274Y+Q291W+D358N+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437I+K530N+S614V;M181Y+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369L+E402N+S434P; A109T+Q291W+D369L+E402N;Q119E+Q291W+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437Y+S489I+K530N;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D358N+D369L+E402N+N437D;D274Y+Q291W+D358K+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437W+K530V+S614D;Q258N+Q291W+D369R+E402N+A475W+K495H+G628V; A109S+Q291W+D369L+E402N;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D358E+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437L+S614A;Q291W+D369L+E402N+E493Y+N₅₀₄Y+T611A;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D358K+D369L+E402N+S614V;D274Y+Q291W+D358E+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437L+K530N+S614A;Q258H+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+A475F+K495N+G628L;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369Y+E402N+A475W+K495V+T540K+G628W;D274Y+Q291W+D358N+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437W+S614V;I106V+Y135Q+Q291W+Q313M+D369L+E402N+A475L+K495Q;Q258N+Q291W+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475F+G628V;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437V;D274Y+Q291W+D358K+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437Y+S489L+K530V;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D358N+D369L+E402N;Q291W+D369L+E402N+K495V+S501R+A503E+K530N+T611H;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D358N+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437V+S489I+K530C;Q119E+Q291W+D358K+D369L+E402N+N437L+S489N;D274Y+Q291W+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437W+K530C+S614D;Q258N+Q291W+D369R+E402N+A475F+K495N+T540K+G628V;Q291W+D369L+E402N+E493V+N₅₀₄Y; Q291W+D358E+D369L+E385*+E402N+S489T;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+A475L+K495V+A601T+G628W;D274Y+Q291W+D358N+D369L+E385L+E402N+S489N+S614C;D274Y+Q291W+D358K+D369L+E402N+N437V+S489L+K530C+S614A;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D358E+D369L+E402N+N437D;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D358N+D369L+E402N+N437L+S614R;D274Y+Q291W+D358N+D369L+E402N+N437Y+K530V;D274Y+Q291W+D358E+D369L+E402N+N437Y+S489N+K530N+S614V+D781N;Q258H+Q291W+D369*+E402N+S434P+T540K+G628L;Q119E+Q291W+D358E+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437L+S489N+K530V;Q258N+Q291W+D369L+E402N+G628V;Q291W+D358K+D369L+E385L+E402N+S489I+K530N;Q119E+Q291W+D369L+E385L+E402N+S489N+K530V+S614A;I106V+Y135Q+Q291W+D369L+E402N+S434P+A475F+K495H+G628L;Q119E+Q291W+D358K+D369L+E402N+N437V+K497R+S614A;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D358E+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437L;D274Y+Q291W+D358K+D369L+E402N+N437L+S489I+K530V+S614A;I106V+Q291W+Q313M+D369L+E402N+S434P+A475W+K495N+G628W;Q291W+D369L+E402N+A505C+L620M+T635I;Q291W+D369L+E402N+E493A+N₅₀₄Y+A505C+L620M+T635A;D274Y+Q291W+D358N+D369L+E402N+S489N+K530C+S614A;D274Y+Q291W+D358K+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437W+K530D;Q291W+D369L+E402N+S489N+K495H+S501R+K530N;D274Y+Q291W+D358E+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437D+K530C+S614H;Q119E+Q291W+D358E+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437W+S489N+K530E+S614A;Q291W+D369L+E402N+E493Y+N₅₀₄Y+N521C+T591A+R612P+L620M+T635I;Q291W+D358K+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437I+K530M+S614L;Q291W+D369L+E402N+R672I;D274Y+Q291W+D358E+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437L+S489L;A265S+Q291W+D369L+E402N; Q215M+Q291W+D369L+E402N;Q291W+D369L+E402N+E493V+N₅₀₄Y+N521C+T591A+L620M+T635I;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437L+S489N+K530M+S614D;Q119E+Q291W+D369L+E385L+E402N;Q291W+D369L+E402N+E493A+N₅₀₄Y+D566G+R612P+L620M+T635A;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D369L+E385L+E402N+S614Y;I106V+Y135Q+M181Y+Q258N+Q291W+D369L+E402N;Q119E+Q291W+D358E+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437W+K530V;Q215E+Q291W+D369L+E402N;Q291W+D369L+E402N+N₅₀₄Y+N521C+T591A+R612H+L620M+T635I;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D358K+D369L+E402N+N437Y+K530I;Q258H+Q291W+D369L+E402N+K495N;Q291W+D358N+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437D+S489N+K530I;Q291W+D369L+P374Y+E402N+Y491L+S501R;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+G332D+D369H+E402N+S434P;Q291W+D358N+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437F+S489L+K530V;Q291W+D369L+E402N+R672S; Q291W+D369L+E402N+T687M;Q291W+F314V+D369L+E402N; Q258N+Q291W+T357A+D369H+E402N+S434P+K495F;Q291W+D369L+P374Y+E402N+Y491F+S501R+N521C; Q291W+D369L+E402N+Q690K;Q291W+D358E+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437F+K530V+S614A;Q291W+D369L+E402N+R672A; Q291W+D369L+E402N+R672T;Q291W+D369L+E402N+D703K; D274Y+Q291W+D369L+E402N;Q291W+D369L+E402N+R672F; Q291W+D369L+E402N+R672D;Q291W+D369L+E402N+Y491F+S501R+N536K+D566G; Q291W+D369L+E402N+A732G;Q291W+D369L+E402N+E493Y+N₅₀₄Y+N521C+T591C+R612P+L620M;I106V+Y135Q+Q291W+D369L+E402N+A475F+G628W; Q291W+D369L+E402N+R672G;Q291W+D369L+E402N+T777N; Q291W+Q313M+D369L+E402N+T540K;Q291W+D369L+E402N+K708F; Q291W+D369L+P374Y+E402N+S501H;Q291W+D369L+E402N+Y715P; Q291W+D369L+E402N+A732M;Q291W+D369L+E402N+E493A+N₅₀₄Y+N521C+D566G+R612P+L620M;Q291W+D369L+E402N+Q690R;D274Y+Q291W+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437V+K530I+S614D;Q291W+D369L+E402N+L757K; Q291W+D369L+E402N+T687Y;Q291W+D369L+E402N+Y491H+S501R+N521C+T591A; Q291W+D369L+E402N+V775C;Q291W+D369L+E402N+R672V; Q291W+D369L+E402N+N670D;Q291W+D369L+E402N+T779S; Q291W+D369L+E402N+V638R;Q291W+D369L+E402N+T687F; Q291W+D369L+E402N+T687L;Q291W+D369L+E402N+K610S; Q291W+D369L+E402N+Y491L+S501R+N521C;D274Y+Q291W+D358E+D369L+E402N+K530V+S614V;I106V+M181Y+Q258N+Q291W+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475W+K495V+T540K+G628V;Q291W+D369L+E402N+N536K; Q291W+D369L+E402N+E493V+N₅₀₄Y+R612P+L620M;Q291W+D369L+E402N+S676C; Q291W+D369L+E402N+T540K+G628W;Q291W+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437D+S489L+K530C+S614D;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D358N+D369L+E402N+N437F+S489N+S614L;Q291W+D369L+E402N+S434P+A475W+K495V; Q291W+D369L+E402N+A689I;Q291W+D369L+E402N+E493A+N₅₀₄Y+N521C+D566G+R612H+L620M;Q291W+D369L+E402N+V638S; Q291W+D369L+E402N+V648W;Q291W+D369L+E402N+D650V; Q291W+D369L+E402N+V674M;Q291W+D369L+E402N+V638E; I106V+Q291W+D369L+E402N;Y135Q+Q291W+D369L+E402N; Q291W+D369L+E402N+S764F;Q291W+D369L+E402N+E493A+N₅₀₄Y+A505C+N521C+T591A+R612P;Q291W+D369L+E402N+S489N+K495Q+S501R+K530N+T611Q;Q291W+D369L+E402N+T685V;I106V+Q291W+D369L+E402N+S434P+A475C+K495N+T540K;Q119E+Q291W+D358N+D369L+E402N+N437D+K530N+S614V;Q291W+D369L+E402N+T687K; Q291W+D369L+E402N+S652D;Q291W+D369R+E402N+A475F+K495Q+T540K+G628L;Y135Q+Q291W+D369L+E402N+G628V;Q291W+D369L+E402N+E493Y+A505C+N521C+T591A+L620M;Q291W+D369L+E402N+T687W; Q291W+D369L+E402N+D650F;Q291W+D369L+E402N+T687C; Q291W+D369L+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628V;Q291W+D369L+E402N+S501N;D274Y+Q291W+D369L+E402N+N437K+S489I+K530V+S614L;Q291W+D369L+E402N+T699L; Q119E+V246I+Q291W+D358E+D369L+E402N+S614L;Q291W+D369L+E402N+N₅₀₄Y+N521C+D566G+L620M+T635A;Q291W+D369L+E402N+E493Y+N₅₀₄Y+D566G+T591A+R612P+L620M;Q291W+D369L+E402N+N536K+T591A; Q291W+D369L+E402N+Q690A;Q291W+D358K+D369L+E402N+N437L+S489I+K530D;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D358E+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437V+S489N+K530M+S614H;Q291W+D369L+P374Y+E402N+Y491L; Q291W+D369L+E402N+S501R;Q291W+D369L+E402N+Y491L+N521C+N536K;Q291W+D369L+E402N+E493Y+N₅₀₄Y+N521C+T591C+R612P+L620M+T635V;Q119E+Q291W+D358N+D369L+E385L+E402N+N437I+S489I+S614L;T120Y+Q291W+D369L+E402N+S501R+N521C+D566G;Q291W+D369L+E402N+Y491L+N521C;Q291W+D369L+E402N+Y491L+S501N+D566G+T591A;D274Y+N278Y+Q291W+D358E+D369L+E402N+N437Y+S489L+K530E;I106V+Q291W+D369L+E402N+S434P+A475W+K495F+T540K+G628V;Q119E+Q291W+D358N+D369L+E402N+N437Y+E742G;Y135Q+Q291W+D369Y+E402N+A475F+K495F;T120H+Q291W+D369L+E402N+Y491H+S501H+T591C;Q119E+Q291W+D358N+D369L+E402N+N437F+S489N+K530E+S614L;Q119E+D274Y+Q291W+D358N+D369L+E402N+N437I+S489N+K530V+S614Y;T120Y+Q291W+D369L+E402N+N521C+N536K;Q291W+D369L+E402N+Y491F+S501N+N521C+N536K+T591R;Q291W+D369L+E402N+S501N+N521C+D566G+T591R;Q291W+D369L+E402N+Y491L+S501R+N536K+D566G+T591R; andD274Y+Q291W+D358E+D369L+E402N+N437Y+S489N+K530I+S614L; (where amino acidposition is determined by optimal alignment with SEQ ID NO:2).

In some embodiments, the isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidasepolypeptide variant of the present invention is at least about 70%identical to WT C1 Bgl1 (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) and comprises asubstitution set selected from the group consisting of:Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+Y715P+T823K;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T685V+Y715P;I106V+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+S764F;A109T+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+I428V+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+Y491F+K495N+G628W+Y715P;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+Q381V+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+S501R+G628W+Y715P;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+S764F;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E385L+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+N627H+G628W+A732G;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+A689I;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T685V+Y715P+T777N;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+D650Y+Q716R+L757K;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+Y715P;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+V562L+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+A505C+G628W+S764F;Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+Y715P+E819V;A109T+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+S652D+V846F;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+Q690K;D47I+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;E21Q+V175A+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+E360D+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+L757K;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+S604I+N627H+G628W+A732G;A109T+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+V775C;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+S764F;P29Q+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;A136L+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+S764F+P870S;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E385L+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687M;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+N588F+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D358K+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Y135M+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+Y715P;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T785L;A79G+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;A109T+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+S848N;I106V+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+A732G;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+L757K;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+N627H+G628W+T687M+E822K;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G616D+G628W;A79M+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;I106V+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+A617V+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+P436Q+A475L+K495N+G626D+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687C;Q85N+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;A109S+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+N536K+G628W;S58G+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;E21Q+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+Q381V+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+A505C+G628W;E21R+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;V25A+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;H26R+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;L30K+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;N45H+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+E493V+K495N+G628W;P29M+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;P29M+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+A732S+A748T+V840I;Q55R+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;K24G+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;G180E+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+Q479R+K495N+S501R+G628W+Y715P+E819L;A79E+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+R672G;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+A505C+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687K;Q27R+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;V253F+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;S22L+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+Q690H;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+S799N;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+E360D+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+E822M;K24T+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+S787G;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+R612H+G628W+L757K+S787G;S22L+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+Q479R+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687K+E822M;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+M454E+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+V562C+G628W;S22R+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;V25G+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T685V;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+A404S+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;G216L+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;V25R+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;V25G+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q27H+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;K24L+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+D650F+L757K;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+T482A+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+A617V+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+S501C+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+N536K+G628W+R817P;G180E+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+R476Q+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T777N;Q119E+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;A109S+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+S848N;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+Y850H;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+P436E+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+R769H+E819A;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+T496A+G628W;Q258N+V260L+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;D244H+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+E819V;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+S652D;Q258N+Q291W+D311N+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+R612H+G628W+A689I+K866I;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T783H;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T823K;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+D650N+S787G;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+K708F;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+E360D+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+S652D;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+E822G;L237Y+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+E494K+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+E360D+D369R+E402N+S434P+D470N+A475L+K495N+G628W+L757K;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+S764F;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+D650F;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+S848N;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+T496A+N536K+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+K421R+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T777N;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+N627H+G628W+E822M;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+F634A;A4V+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+N437W+A475L+K495N+G628W;Y135Q+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Y135Q+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+V673A+T685V;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+L757K+P806L;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+V559T+G628W;Y135M+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+V775C;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+N627H+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+A405T+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;I221V+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+S501R+G628W+T685V;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+A394G+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+L757K;P161S+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D358K+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G616D+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+K807R;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+A732M;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+A505C+G628W+E822G;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+E493V+K495N+G628W+S652D;A15V+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+K866Q;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+E493A+K495N+G628W+S652D+Q690A;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+E819L;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+E819V;G180E+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E385L+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+D751N;G202M+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+N627H+G628W+T687K+E822A;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+K866I;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T783Q;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369L+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+E493Y+K495N+A505C+G628W;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+T482A+K495N+G628W+D646N;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+A477G+K495N+G628W+S764F+S848N;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+I847T;Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T685V+Y850Q;Y135M+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+S501R+G628W+T685V+T777N;and Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+Y850Q; (whereamino acid position is determined by optimal alignment with SEQ IDNO:2).

In some embodiments, the isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidasepolypeptide variant of the present invention is at least about 70%identical to WT C1 Bgl1 (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) and comprises asubstitution set selected from the group consisting of:

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amino acid position is determined by optimal alignment with SEQID NO:2).

In some embodiments, the isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidasepolypeptide variant of the present invention is at least about 70%identical to WT C1 Bgl1 (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) and comprises asubstitution set selected from the group consisting of:

D47I+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P;D47I+A79G+Q85N+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P+A732M;D47I+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687C+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79E+Q85N+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+A505C+G628W+T687W+A689I+Y715P;D47I+A79E+Q85N+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P;D47I+A79G+Q85N+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+A505C+G628W+T687C+A689I+Y715P+S764Y+R769H;D47I+A79G+Q85N+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P;D47I+A79M+Q85N+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+A505C+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P;D47I+A79M+Q85N+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+A505C+G628W+T687C+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+A505C+G628W+T687C+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79M+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+Q258N+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79E+Q85N+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+A505C+G628W+T687W+A689I+Y715P+A732V;D47I+A79M+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+A505C+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P+A732M;D47I+Q85N+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687C+A689I+Y715P;D47I+A79G+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P+A732M;D47I+A79G+Q85N+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P;D47I+A79G+Q85N+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687C+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79G+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P+A732M;D47I+Q85N+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P;D47I+Q85N+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79M+Q85N+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+T687W+A689I+Y715P;D47I+A79G+Q85N+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+A505C+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P;D47I+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687C+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79G+Q85N+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P;D47I+Q85N+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79G+Q85N+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+A505C+G628W+T687C+A689I+Y715P;D47I+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+A505C+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79G+Q85N+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P;D47I+A79M+Q85N+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+Q85N+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P;D47I+Q85N+Q258N+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+T687C+A689I+Y715P;D47I+A79G+Q85N+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P;D47I+Q85N+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P;D47I+A79G+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P;D47I+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P;D47I+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+A505C+G628W+D646N+T687K+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P;D47I+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P+A732V;D47I+A79G+Q85N+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+P439S+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P;D47I+Q85N+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+D395N+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P+A732V;D47I+A79G+Q258N+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+A505C+G628W+T687C+A689I+T693A+Y715P+T827I;D47I+Q85N+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+A505C+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P+A732V;andD47I+A79G+Q258N+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+A505C+G628W+T687K+A689I+T693E+N723G+A730S+Y855;(where amino acid position is determined by optimal alignment with SEQID NO:2).

In some embodiments, the isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidasepolypeptide variant of the present invention is at least about 70%identical to WT C1 Bgl1 (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) and comprises asubstitution set selected from the group consisting of:V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79E+Q85N+I106V+A109T+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79E+Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+A505C+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;A79M+Q85N+I106V+A109T+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79E+I106V+A109T+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79G+Q85N+I106V+A109T+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;A79E+Q85N+I106V+A109T+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;A79G+Q85N+I106V+A109T+Q258N+V260G+L275F+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+A505C+G628W+T687C+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79E+Q85N+I106V+A109S+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79E+Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+N315D+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+A505C+G628W+T687W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;A79E+Q85N+I106V+A109S+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;A79G+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+T687W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79G+Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+A505C+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+Q85N+I106V+A109S+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79E+Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79M+Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+I106V+A109T+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79G+Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+A505C+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;A79M+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;A79M+Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+A505C+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;A79M+Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79G+Q85N+I106V+A109S+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;A79E+Q85H+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79G+Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;A79G+Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79E+Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+I106V+A109T+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+D47I+Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;A79E+Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;A79G+Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79G+Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+T591I+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;Q85N+I106V+A109T+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;A79M+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;Q85N+I106V+A109S+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+A505C+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+A505C+G628W+T687K+A689I+Y715P+A732G;Q85N+I106V+A109T+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+Q85N+I106V+A109T+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343G+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+Q85N+I106V+A109T+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+Q85N+I106V+A109S+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+Q85N+I106V+A109S+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+A475L+K495N+G628W+T687C+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79M+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;A79G+Q85N+I106V+A109S+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+A505C+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79E+Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+T687W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;I106V+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+Q85N+I106V+A109T+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;Q85N+I106V+A109S+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+F314V+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;D47I+A79M+I106V+A109S+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;A79M+Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G;andA79M+Q85N+I106V+Q258N+V260G+L275Y+Q291W+Q313M+F314L+A343C+D369R+E402N+S434P+K495N+A505C+G628W+A689I+Y715P+A732G(where amino acid position is determined by optimal alignment with SEQID NO:2).

In some embodiments, the variant comprises a substitution set selectedfrom those exemplified above (Table 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and comprisesfurther substitutions that (a) do not diminish the activity orthermostability of the variant and (b) do not include substitutions atany additional residues in the group consisting of: K57; A88; 1106;N112; Q119; T120; A123; R132; Y135; A136; A141; K142; L149; G158; P161;P172; T177; I179; G180; M181; S182; E183; K186; A197; G202; Y219; N220;S222; T224; I229; M234; F242; A243; V246; Q258; D274; V286; Q291; Q313;V318; A343; T354; T357; D358; E360; D369; P374; 1375; A378; Q381; E385;S388; V390; A394; N398; E402; K406; I428; S434; N437; E449; Q474; A475;T482; S489; Y491; K530; N536; T540; T565; V674; R682; 1867; E868; andP870.

In some embodiments, the isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidasepolypeptide variant of the present invention is at least about 70%identical to wild-type C1 Bgl1 (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) andcomprises a substitution set selected from the group consisting ofsubstitution sets showing at least 6.0 to 6.9 fold improvement inactivity over the native C1 Bgl1, as identified in Table 2. In someembodiments, the variant comprises a substitution set selected from thegroup consisting of substitution sets showing at least 5.0 to 5.9 foldimprovement in activity over the native C1 Bgl1, as identified in Table2. In some embodiments, the variant comprises a substitution setselected from the group consisting of substitution sets showing at least4.0 to 4.9 fold improvement in activity over the native C1 Bgl1, asidentified in Table 2. In some embodiments, the variant comprises asubstitution set selected from the group consisting of substitution setsshowing at least 3.0 to 3.9 fold improvement in activity over the nativeC1 Bgl1, as identified in Table 2. In some embodiments, the variantcomprises a substitution set selected from the group consisting ofsubstitution sets showing at least 2.0 to 2.9 fold improvement inthermostability over the native C1 Bgl1, as identified in Table 2. Insome embodiments, the variant comprises a substitution set selected fromthe group consisting of substitution sets showing at least 1.1 to 1.9fold improvement in thermostability over the native C1 Bgl1, asidentified in Table 2.

In some embodiments, the isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidasepolypeptide variant of the present invention is at least about 70%identical to wild-type C1 Bgl1 (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) andcomprises a substitution set selected from the group consisting ofsubstitution sets showing at least 6.0 to 6.9 fold improvement inactivity over the Variant 3, as identified in Table 3. In someembodiments, the variant comprises a substitution set selected from thegroup consisting of substitution sets showing at least 5.0 to 5.9 foldimprovement in activity over the Variant 3, as identified in Table 3. Insome embodiments, the variant comprises a substitution set selected fromthe group consisting of substitution sets showing at least 4.0 to 4.9fold improvement in activity over the Variant 3, as identified in Table3. In some embodiments, the variant comprises a substitution setselected from the group consisting of substitution sets showing at least3.0 to 3.9 fold improvement in activity over the Variant 3, asidentified in Table 3. In some embodiments, the variant a substitutionset selected from the group consisting of substitution sets showing atleast 2.0 to 2.9 fold improvement in activity over the Variant 3, asidentified in Table 3. In some embodiments, the variant comprises asubstitution set selected from the group consisting of substitution setsshowing at least 1.1 to 1.9 fold improvement in activity over theVariant 3, as identified in Table 3.

In some embodiments, the isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidasepolypeptide variant of the present invention is at least about 70%identical to wild-type C1 Bgl1 (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) andcomprises a substitution set selected from the group consisting ofsubstitution sets showing at least 4.0 to 4.9 fold improvement inactivity over the Variant 269, as identified in Table 4. In someembodiments, the variant comprises a substitution set selected from thegroup consisting of substitution sets showing at least 3.0 to 3.9 foldimprovement in activity over the Variant 269, as identified in Table 4.In some embodiments, the variant comprises a substitution set selectedfrom the group consisting of substitution sets showing at least 2.0 to2.9 fold improvement in activity over the Variant 269, as identified inTable 4. In some embodiments, the variant comprises a substitution setselected from the group consisting of substitution sets showing at least1.1 to 1.9 fold improvement in activity over the Variant 269 asidentified in Table 4.

In some embodiments, the isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidasepolypeptide variant of the present invention is at least about 70%identical to wild-type C1 Bgl1 (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) andcomprises a substitution set selected from the group consisting ofsubstitution sets showing at least 4.0 to 4.9 fold improvement inactivity over Variant 481, as identified in Table 5. In someembodiments, the variant comprises a substitution set selected from thegroup consisting of substitution sets showing at least 3.0 to 3.9 foldimprovement in activity over the Variant 481, as identified in Table 5.In some embodiments, the variant comprises a substitution set selectedfrom the group consisting of substitution sets showing at least 2.0 to2.9 fold improvement in activity over the Variant 481, as identified inTable 5. In some embodiments, the variant comprises a substitution setselected from the group consisting of substitution sets showing at least1.1 to 1.9 fold improvement in activity over the Variant 481, asidentified in Table 5.

In some embodiments, the isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidasepolypeptide variant of the present invention is at least about 70%identical to wild-type C1 Bgl1 (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) andcomprises a substitution set selected from the group consisting ofsubstitution sets showing at least 4.0 to 4.9 fold improvement inactivity over Variant 647, as identified in Table 6. In someembodiments, the variant comprises a substitution set selected from thegroup consisting of substitution sets showing at least 3.0 to 3.9 foldimprovement in activity over the Variant 647, as identified in Table 6.In some embodiments, the variant comprises a substitution set selectedfrom the group consisting of substitution sets showing at least 2.0 to2.9 fold improvement in activity over the Variant 647, as identified inTable 6. In some embodiments, the variant comprises a substitution setselected from the group consisting of substitution sets showing at least1.1 to 1.9 fold improvement in activity over the Variant 647, asidentified in Table 6. In some embodiments, the variant comprises asubstitution set selected from the group consisting of substitution setsshowing at least 0.6 to 1.0 fold improvement in activity over theVariant 647, as identified in Table 6.

In some embodiments, the isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidasepolypeptide variant of the present invention is at least about 70%identical to wild-type C1 Bgl1 (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) andcomprises a substitution set selected from the group consisting ofsubstitution sets showing at least 3.0 to 3.9 fold improvement inactivity over Variant 664, as identified in Table 7. In someembodiments, the variant comprises a substitution set selected from thegroup consisting of substitution sets showing at least 2.0 to 2.9 foldimprovement in activity over the Variant 664, as identified in Table 7.

In some embodiments, the isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidasepolypeptide variant of the present invention is at least about 70%identical to wild-type C1 Bgl1 (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) andcomprises a substitution set selected from the group consisting ofsubstitution sets showing at least 4.0 to 4.9 fold improvement inthermostability over the native C1 Bgl1, as identified in Table 2. Insome embodiments, the variant comprises a substitution set selected fromthe group consisting of substitution sets showing at least 3.0 to 3.9fold improvement in thermostability over the native C1 Bgl1, asidentified in Table 2. In some embodiments, the variant comprises asubstitution set selected from the group consisting of substitution setsshowing at least 2.0 to 2.9 fold improvement in thermostability over thenative C1 Bgl1, as identified in Table 2. In some embodiments, thevariant comprises a substitution set selected from the group consistingof substitution sets showing at least 1.1 to 1.9 fold improvement inthermostability over the native C1 Bgl1, as identified in Table 2.

In some embodiments, the isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidasepolypeptide variant of the present invention is at least about 70%identical to wild-type C1 Bgl1 (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) andcomprises a substitution set selected from the group consisting ofsubstitution sets showing at least 3.0 to 3.9 fold improvement inthermostability over the Variant 3, as identified in Table 3. In someembodiments, the variant comprises a substitution set selected from thegroup consisting of substitution sets showing at least 2.0 to 2.9 foldimprovement in thermostability over the Variant 3, as identified inTable 3. In some embodiments, the variant comprises a substitution setselected from the group consisting of substitution sets showing at least1.1 to 1.9 fold improvement in thermostability over the Variant 3, asidentified in Table 3.

In some embodiments, the isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidasepolypeptide variant of the present invention is at least about 70%identical to wild-type C1 Bgl1 (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) andcomprises a substitution set selected from the group consisting ofsubstitution sets showing at least 2.0 to 2.0 fold improvement inthermostability over the Variant 269, as identified in Table 4. In someembodiments, the variant comprises a substitution set selected from thegroup consisting of substitution sets showing at least 1.1 to 1.9 foldimprovement in thermostability over the Variant 269, as identified inTable 4.

In some embodiments, the isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidasepolypeptide variant of the present invention is at least about 70%identical to wild-type C1 Bgl1 (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) andcomprises a substitution set selected from the group consisting ofsubstitution sets showing at least 4.0 to 4.9 fold improvement inthermostability over Variant 481, as identified in Table 5. In someembodiments, the variant comprises a substitution set selected from thegroup consisting of substitution sets showing at least 2.0 to 2.9 foldimprovement in thermostability over the Variant 481, as identified inTable 5. In some embodiments, the variant comprises a substitution setselected from the group consisting of substitution sets showing at least1.1 to 1.9 fold improvement in thermostability over the Variant 481, asidentified in Table 5. In some embodiments, the variant comprises asubstitution set selected from the group consisting of substitution setsshowing at least 0.6 to 1.0 fold improvement in thermostability over theVariant 481, as identified in Table 5.

In some embodiments, the isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidasepolypeptide variant of the present invention is at least about 70%identical to wild-type C1 Bgl1 (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) andcomprises a substitution set selected from the group consisting ofsubstitution sets showing at least 2.0 to 2.9 fold improvement inthermostability over Variant 647, as identified in Table 6. In someembodiments, the variant comprises a substitution set selected from thegroup consisting of substitution sets showing at least 1.1 to 1.9 foldimprovement in thermostability over the Variant 647, as identified inTable 6. In some embodiments, the variant comprises a substitution setselected from the group consisting of substitution sets showing at least0.6 to 1.0 fold improvement in thermostability over the Variant 647, asidentified in Table 6. In some embodiments, the variant comprises asubstitution set selected from the group consisting of substitution setsshowing at least 0.2 to 0.5 fold improvement in thermostability over theVariant 647, as identified in Table 6.

In some embodiments, the isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidasepolypeptide variant of the present invention is at least about 70%identical to wild-type C1 Bgl1 (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) andcomprises a substitution set selected from the group consisting ofsubstitution sets showing at least 1.1 to 1.9 fold improvement inthermostability over Variant 664, as identified in Table 7. In someembodiments, the variant comprises a substitution set selected from thegroup consisting of substitution sets showing at least 0.6 to 1.0 foldimprovement in thermostability over the Variant 664, as identified inTable 7.

In some embodiments, the isolated and/or recombinant β-glucosidasepolypeptide variant of the present invention is at least about 70%identical to wild-type C1 Bgl1 (residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2) andcomprises a substitution set selected from the group consisting ofsubstitution sets showing any improvement in activity and/orthermostability over the native C1 Bgl1, as identified in Table 2. Insome embodiments, the variant comprises a substitution set selected fromthe group consisting of substitution sets showing any improvement inactivity and/or thermostability over the Variant 3 as identified inTable 3. In some embodiments, the variant comprises a substitution setselected from the group consisting of substitution sets showing anyimprovement in activity and/or thermostability over the Variant 269 asidentified in Table 4. In some embodiments, the variant comprises asubstitution set selected from the group consisting of substitution setsshowing any improvement in activity and/or thermostability over theVariant 481 as identified in Table 5. In some embodiments, the variantcomprises a substitution set selected from the group consisting ofsubstitution sets showing any improvement in activity and/orthermostability over the Variant 647 as identified in Table 6. In someembodiments, the variant comprises a substitution set selected from thegroup consisting of substitution sets showing any improvement inactivity and/or thermostability over the Variant 664 as identified inTable 7.

As noted above, β-glucosidase polypeptides encompassed by the inventionhave at least about 70% sequence identity to residues 20-870 of SEQ IDNO:2. In some embodiments, β-glucosidase polypeptides encompassed by theinvention include those having an amino acid sequence at least about 71%identical, at least about 72% identical, at least about 73% identical,at least about 73% identical, at least about 74% identical, at leastabout 75% identical, at least about 76% identical, at least about 77%identical, at least about 78% identical, at least about 79% identical,at least about 80% identical, at least about 81% identical, at leastabout 82% identical, at least about 83% identical, at least about 84%identical, at least about 85% identical, at least about 86% identical,at least about 87% identical, at least about 88% identical, at leastabout 89% identical, at least about 90% identical, at least about 91%identical, at least about 92% identical, at least about 93% identical,at least about 94% identical, at least about 95% identical, at leastabout 96% identical, at least about 97% identical, at least about 98%identical or at least about 99% identical to residues 20-870 of SEQ IDNO:2. Each recitation herein of “70%” should be understood to alsoinclude, in the alternative, any of the higher values above.

As noted above, Bgl1 variants of the invention may encompass additionalamino acid substitutions beyond those listed above including, forexample, variants with one or more additional conservative substitutionsmade in their amino acid sequences. Examples of conservativesubstitutions are within the group of basic amino acids (arginine,lysine and histidine), acidic amino acids (glutamic acid and asparticacid), polar amino acids (glutamine and asparagines), hydrophobic aminoacids (leucine, isoleucine and valine), aromatic amino acids(phenylalanine, tryptophan and tyrosine), and small amino acids(glycine, alanine, serine, threonine, proline, cysteine and methionine).Amino acid substitutions that do not generally alter the specificactivity are known in the art and are described, for example, by H.Neurath and R. L. Hill, 1979, in “The Proteins,” Academic Press, NewYork, which is incorporated herein by reference. The most commonlyoccurring exchanges are Ala/Ser, Val/Ile, Asp/Glu, Thr/Ser, Ala/Gly,Ala/Thr, Ser/Asn, Ala/Val, Ser/Gly, Tyr/Phe, Ala/Pro, Lys/Arg, Asp/Asn,Leu/Ile, Leu/Val, Ala/Glu, and Asp/Gly, as well as these in reverse.

Conservatively substituted variations of the β-glucosidase polypeptidevariants of the present invention include substitutions of a smallpercentage, typically less than 5%, more typically less than 2%, andoften less than 1% of the amino acids of the polypeptide sequence, witha conservatively selected amino acid of the same conservativesubstitution group. The addition of sequences which do not alter theencoded activity of a β-glucosidase, such as the addition of anon-functional or non-coding sequence, is considered a conservativevariation of the β-glucosidase polynucleotide.

The present invention also provides enzymatically active fragments ofthe β-glucosidase polypeptide variants described herein havingβ-glucosidase activity and at least one substitution described herein.It is believed based on prior studies that C1 Bgl1 tolerates truncation(i.e., retains activity). It has been observed that a variant of C1 Bgl1having a sequence that differed from wild-type at each of the N-terminal25 amino acid positions retained β-glucosidase activity (not shown).Similarly, truncation at the carboxy termini of 16 amino acid residuesis tolerated in Azospirillum irakense β-glucosidase (CeIA). See U.S.Ser. No. 61/218,020, which is incorporated herein by reference.Accordingly, the present invention further provides an isolated orrecombinant β-glucosidase polypeptide variant having an amino acidsequence having a deletion of from 1 to 50 amino acid residues from thecarboxy (C-) terminus, the amino (N-) terminus, or both (i.e., adeletion of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36,37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, or 50 amino acidresidues from either or both the N- or C-terminus) with respect to SEQID NO:2. In certain embodiments, the deletion will be from 1 to 15 aminoacid residues from the N-terminus and/or from 1 to 40 amino acidresidues from the C-terminus. These β-glucosidase fragments are alsoreferred to herein as N-terminally truncated and C-terminally truncatedβ-glucosidase polypeptide variants, respectively. In some embodiments,the deletion may be from 1 to 30, or 1 to 20, or 1 to 10 residues, or 1to 5 residues from the C-terminus, the N-terminus, or both.

TABLE 2 Table 2, Thermoactivity conditions: pH 5, 65° C. for 21 hrs.Thermostability conditions: enzyme residual activity was determinedafter incubated at pH 5, 65° C. for 6 hrs. Stability Fold Activity Foldimprovement improvement over WT Variant Silent Nucleotide over WT (SEQID NO: Number Amino Acid Changes¹ Changes² (SEQ ID NO: 2)³ 2)³ 1 M181Y +Q291W + E402N + S434P ++++++ ++ 2 R132K + L149M + Q313M + D369L +E385L + N437D ++++++ ++ 3 Q291W + D369L + E402N +++++ +++ 4 Y135I +Q258N + Q474I +++++ + 5 M181Y + Q291W + E360D + D369V + P374Y + T482A+++++ +++ 6 Q258N + N437F + S489L + Y491H +++++ ++ 7 Q119E + Q258N +T357L + Q474I + S489L +++++ ++ 8 Q258N + D369R + S489L + Y491H +++++ ++9 N220Y + Q258N + T357L + D369R + Q474I + Y491F g1428a +++++ ++ 10M234E + V246L + D358K + D369L + N398G + K530M +++++ ++ 11 Y135Q +I229M + F242L + D369L + K530M ++++ ++ 12 D369Q + P374Y + E402N + T540K++++ ++ 13 Y135Q + P172A + I179M + I229M + Q291A + D358K + D369L + N398G++++ ++ 14 R132K + D369L + E385L ++++ ++ 15 Y135M + I179M + Q291A +D358K + D369L t573g ++++ ++ 16 Q291W + P374Y + E402N + S434P ++++ ++ 17Q119E + N220Y + Q258N + T357L + S489L ++++ + 18 I179M + Q291A + D358K +D369L + I375V + S388W c1068a + c1461t ++++ ++ 19 Q291W + D369C c2580t++++ ++ 20 R132K + T354Q + D369L + N437L ++++ + 21 Q291A + D369L +N398G + K530M ++++ ++ 22 Q119E + Q258N + D274Y + S489L ++++ ++ 23Q119E + N220Y + Q258N + Q474I + S489L ++++ ++ 24 M181Y + D369L ++++ + 25T120M + S222E + Q313M + T354Q + D369L + E385L ++++ ++ 26 A4G + Q258N +D274Y + T357L + N437W + Q474I + Y491H c27t ++++ ++ 27 R132G + D369L +N437D ++++ ++ 28 S182L + Q313M + D369L + E385L ++++ ++ 29 R132G +D369L + E385L ++++ ++ 30 N112V + D358K + D369L + S388W + K530M ++++ ++31 I106V + G180E + D369L + Q381V ++++ ++ 32 I179M + Q291A + D369Lc489t + c1284t ++++ ++ 33 I179M + D358K + D369L + S388W ++++ ++ 34M234E + Q291A + D369L + N398G ++++ ++ 35 I179M + Q291A + D358K + D369L +Q381I ++++ ++ 36 Y135Q + N220L + Q291A + D369L + N398G ++++ ++ 37Y135I + D369L ++++ + 38 S182L + D369L + E385L + N437L ++++ ++ 39 T120Y +R132K + D369L + N437D ++++ ++ 40 M234E + D369L + S388W + N398G + K530Mc1098t ++++ ++ 41 Y135M + I179M + D369L + V390I + K530M t573g ++++ ++ 42L149Q + A197V + Q313M + D369L c852t + c1308t ++++ + 43 T120M + R132K +D369L + N437L ++++ ++ 44 T120M + R132W + L149M + Q313M + T354Q + D369L +E385L + N437D c540t ++++ ++ 45 A4G + Y135I + N220Y + Q258N + T357P +N437Y ++++ + 46 D358K + D369L + S388W t573g + c657t ++++ ++ 47 Q258N +D274Y + N437F ++++ + 48 D369L + S434P + T540K c285t ++++ ++ 49 G158D +I179M + Q291A + D358K + D369L + I375V + N398G + K530M ++++ ++ 50 Y135I +D274Y + D369R ++++ + 51 Q258N + D369L + Q474I + S489L + Y491F ++++ ++ 52R132W + S182W + D369L + E385L ++++ ++ 53 S182L + T354Q + D369L + E385L++++ ++ 54 S222Q + T354Q + D369L + E385L + N437D + T565G ++++ ++ 55Y135M + P161S + Q291A + A343T + D369L + I375V + K406D c1200a ++++ ++ 56Q291W + D369C + T540K c855t ++++ ++ 57 D369L + P374Y + E402N ++++ + 58Y135I + A343V + D369F + S489L ++++ + 59 M234E + D358K + D369L + S388W++++ ++ 60 T120M + L149Q + D369L + E385L ++++ ++ 61 Q313M + D369L +E385L ++++ ++ 62 T120Y + D369L + E385L c750g +++ ++ 63 D369L + N437D +T565A +++ + 64 N112V + Q291A + D369L + I375V c1128t +++ ++ 65 R132W +L149Q + Q313M + T354Q + D369L c1305t +++ + 66 Y135M + D369L + I375V +N398G +++ ++ 67 D369L + E385L +++ ++ 68 T120M + S182L + Q313M + T354Q +D369L + E385L +++ ++ 69 T177I + Q291W + P374Y + T482A +++ + 70 Q258N +N437F +++ + 71 T120V + R132W + D369L + T565G +++ + 72 N112V + Q291A +D358N + D369E + S388C + K406D +++ + 73 Q291A + D358K + D369L + S388W +K406D t573g +++ ++ 74 I106V + E360R + D369L + Q381V +++ + 75 M234E +Q291A + D369L + S388W + N398G +++ ++ 76 L149M + Q313M + D369L +++ ++ 77M234I + Q291W + E360D + D369V + T482A +++ +++ 78 T120V + T354Q + D369L +E385L + T565P +++ ++ 79 M234I + Q291W + E360D + S434P t42n +++ ++ 80D369Y + I867M + E868R +++ + 81 R132W + S182L + Q313M + D369L c285t +c1092t + c1095t +++ + 82 M234I + Q291W + P374Y + T482A +++ ++ 83 Y219V +M234I + D369C + P374Y + S434P +++ ++ 84 S182L + Q313M + D369L + E385L +N437L c1044t +++ ++ 85 M234E + D358K + D369L + S388W + K530M +++ ++ 86R132G + S222E + D369L + E385L a51g +++ ++ 87 R132K + L149M + S182L +D369L + N437L +++ + 88 T120H + Q313M + D369L +++ ++ 89 R132W + D369Lc1047t +++ + 90 D369L + P374Y +++ ++ 91 N112V + N220L + Q291A + D369L +S388W + N398G +++ ++ 92 Q291A + D369L + I375V + K530G +++ ++ 93 R132K +L149M + S182L + T354Q + D369L + N437D + T565G +++ + 94 T120H + S222E +Q313M + D369L + N437D + T565G +++ ++ 95 A123N + Q291W + T482A + T540K+++ ++ 96 S222E + Q313M + T354Q + D369L + E385L +++ ++ 97 R132W +D369L + T565G +++ + 98 G202M + E360A + D369I + A394L +++ * 99 R132G +S222Q + Q313M + D369L +++ ++ 100 R132W + L149M + D369L +++ + 101 L149M +Q313M + T354Q + D369L +++ + 102 Q119L + G202M + D369L +++ + 103 M181Y +M234I + D369C +++ + 104 I179M + N220L + Q291A + D369L + I375V +++ ++ 105S222E + Q313M + D369L + E385L + N437L +++ ++ 106 I179M + M234E + D358K +D369L + S388W + N398G +++ ++ 107 A123N + Y219V + Q291W + E360D + P374Y +S434P +++ ++ 108 D369L + E402N c1092t +++ + 109 D369L +++ ++ 110 Y219V +M234I + Q291W + T482A +++ + 111 Q291W + E360D + S434P +++ ++ 112 D369L +S434P +++ ++ 113 G180E + E360R + D369L +++ ++ 114 A123N + M181Y +Q291W + D369K + S434P + T540K +++ ++++ 115 Q119E + T357L + D369M + S489L+++ + 116 Q119E + D369F + Y491H +++ + 117 Q119L + D369L +++ + 118Q119E + N220Y + V286I + S489L c1749t + g2280t +++ + 119 Q291A + D369L +Q381I +++ ++ 120 A475F +++ ** 121 D369L + N536K +++ ++ 122 Q119E +Y135I + D369H +++ + 123 Q258N + S489L +++ + 124 Q119E + Y135I + N437Y+++ ** 125 Q119E + Y135I + N437F + Y491F +++ + 126 Q119L + D369L + A394V+++ + 127 E183G + E360A + D369L + I428V +++ + 128 D369L + E449Q + N536K+++ + 129 Q119L + G202M + E360A + A475F +++ ** 130 I106V + D369L +++ ++131 Y135I + D369M +++ + 132 M234I + D369C + S434P +++ + 133 D369L +A475Y +++ ++ 134 Q119E + Y135I + S489L +++ + 135 D369Y + N536K +++ + 136E360R + D369L +++ + 137 G202V + A475H +++ + 138 D369L + Q381V + N536K+++ ++ 139 N220Y + Q258N + S489L + Y491F +++ + 140 Q258N + T357L + D369M+++ ++ 141 I179M + Q291A + D369L + Q381L + S388W + N398G a69g +++ + 142D369Y + A394G + N536K +++ ++ 143 Q291W + E360D + D369V + P374Y ++ +++144 T120M + L149Q + T354Q + D369L + E385L ++ ++ 145 S489L + Y491H ++ +146 N220S + Q291F + D369L ++ ++ 147 D369C + S434P + T540K ++ + 148V318E + D369L + I428V ++ + 149 E183M + G202M + E360A + D369L + A378K +A394V ++ ** 150 A394G + N536K ++ + 151 Q291W + T540K ++ + 152 N220L +Q291A + D369L + Q381L + S388W + K530M ++ + 153 T120V + R132W + E385L +N437D ++ + 154 Q119L + E360A + D369L + A378K ++ + 155 D369A + N536Kt726c ++ + 156 G202V + D369L + A475H ++ + 157 Q381V + A475Y + N536K ++ +158 S434P ++ + 159 I106V + G180E + D369Y + A394G ++ ++ 160 G180E +Q381V + A475H ++ + 161 Q119E + N220Y + Q474I ++ + 162 I106V + D369Q ++ +163 A475Y + N536K ++ + 164 K142R + Y219V + Q291W + S434P + V674I c1398t++ ++ 165 L149Q + S182L + Q313M + D369L + N437L ++ + 166 N112V + I179M +M234E + D369L + N398G c1188t ++ ++ 167 E360A + D369L + A378K ++ + 168E360R + D369Y + N536K ++ + 169 E360R + D369A + Q381V + N536K ++ + 170D369L + Q381D c858t ++ + 171 N437F + S489L ++ + 172 E183M + G202M +V318E + D369I + A394L + I428V ++ ** 173 E360D + D369L + E402N + S434P++ + 174 Q119L + A141F + G202M + A394L + I428V + A475F c2488t ++ * 175T357L + D369R + S489L + Y491H ++ + 176 Y135I + Q258N + T357L ++ + 177K142R + Q291W + E360D + D369C + E402N ++ ++ 178 E183M + A243V + D369L +A378K + A475F ++ + 179 R132K + L149M + E385L ++ + 180 D369Y a1266t ++ +181 M234I + E402N + S434P ++ ** 182 N437Y c1641t ++ ** 183 Q119E + N437F++ + 184 N536K ++ + 185 Q119L + E183Q + G202M + D369P ++ + 186 N112V +I179M + Q291A + D358K + K406D g1122a ++ + 187 A123N + Q291W + T540K ++ +188 D369I + A394L + I428V t2364n ++ * 189 A88S + N536K ++ + 190 Q119E +Y135I + N437F c1473t ++ * 191 A141F + G202M + E360A + D369P + A378K ++ *192 A123N + T482A ++ ** 193 Q313M + N437D ++ + 194 E360R + D369Y ++ +195 E183M + G202M + A475F ++ ** 196 Q119L + E360A + A394V + A475F t2364g++ ** 197 D369L + A378K ++ + 198 E360R + D369L + A394G c90a ++ + 199M181Y + D369E + S434P ++ + 200 D369I t2364n ++ + 201 N112V + Y135Q +I375V + K406D + K530M + P870S ++ + 202 Q119E + Y135I + N220Y + Q258N++ + 203 D369P + A394V + I428V ++ + 204 V318E + D369L ++ + 205 K186R +N536K ++ + 206 Q119L + D369L + A378K ++ + 207 M234I + D369K + S434P + +208 N112V + I179M + N220L + Q291A + Q381I + S388W + N398G + + 209E402N + S434P + + 210 Q119L + A141F + G202M + A394Q c993t + * 211Q313M + T354Q + N437D + + 212 N112V + M234E + D369L + I375V + K406Dg1437a + ++ 213 Q119E + A136E + N220Y + ** 214 Q381D + A394G + N536K +** 215 Q119L + E183G + D369Q + A378T + V390I + ** 216 Y135I + T357L +Q474I + S489L + Y491F + + 217 D369E + A394P + I428V + + 218 N112V +Q291A + Q381I + N398G + + 219 E360R + N536K + + 220 E360D + D369C + +221 R132W + S182L + E385L + ** 222 I179M + Q291A + D358K + N398G +K530G + + 223 N220Y + Q258N + T357L + + 224 T224N + D274Y + T357L +N437F + + 225 N437D + + 226 M234I + E360D + T482A + + 227 A141F +G202M + D274N + V318E + E360A + I428V + * 228 D369Q + + 229 N112V +N220L + D358K + D369L + I375V + Q381I + N398G + + 230 Y135I + D369F + +231 A243V + V318E + E360A + A475W + ** 232 N220L + D369L + Q381L +S388W + N398G + K530G + + 233 S489L + + 234 K142R + Y219V + * 235Y135I + N220Y + Y491F + * 236 S182W + T354Q + E385L + + 237 I179M +D358K + S388W + ** 238 L149M + Q313M + T565P + ** 239 R132G + E385L + **240 V318E + + 241 Q119L + E183K + ** 242 R132W + E385L + ** 243 E183G +V318E + E360A + A394Q + A475C + ** 244 E183M + G202M + E360A + ** 245A394G + + 246 D369P + + 247 Y135M + Q291A + S388W + N398G + * 248Y219V + D369C + ++ 249 A394V + I428V g1428a + ** 250 Q119L + + 251Y135I + ** 252 E360R + D369Q + Q381D + N536K + ** 253 N220L + M234E +Q291A + I375V + K530M + + 254 Q119L + G202M + E360A + ** 255 N220Y +Q258N + D369R + +++ 256 M181Y + M234I + Q291W + E402N + + 257 A394Vg2382a + ** 258 T120M + L149Q + Q313M c1686t + + 259 Q119L + V318E +I428V + + 260 E360R + Q381V + + 261 K57R + G202M + E360A + A394V + **262 I179M + D358K + I375V + Q381L + + 263 E360A + + 264 I179M +R682W + + 265 E360A + I428V + + 266 D369K + P374Y + + ¹Amino acidchanges are indicated with respect to SEQ ID NO: 2. ²Nucleotide changesare indicated with respect to SEQ ID NO: 1. ³Fold improvement isrepresented as follows: * = 0.3 to 0.5 fold improvement over the nativeC1 Bgl1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) ** = 0.6 to 1 fold improvement over the native C1Bgl1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) + = 1.1 to 1.9 fold improvement over the native C1Bgl1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) ++ = 2.0 to 2.9 fold improvement over the native C1Bgl1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) +++ = 3.0 to 3.9 fold improvement over the native C1Bgl1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) ++++ = 4.0 to 4.9 fold improvement over the nativeC1 Bgl1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) +++++ = 5.0 to 5.9 fold improvement over thenative C1 Bgl1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) ++++++ = 6.0 to 6.9 fold improvement overthe native C1 Bgl1 (SEQ ID NO: 2)

TABLE 3 Table 3: Thermoactivity conditions: pH 5, 70° C. for 21 hrs.Thermostability conditions: enzyme residual activity was determinedafter incubated at pH 5, 65° C. for 16-48 hrs. Stability Activity FoldFold Variant Silent Nucleotide improvement improvement Number Amino AcidChanges¹ Changes² over Var. 3³ over Var. 3³ 3 Q291W + D369L + E402N 267I106V + Q258N + Q291W + D369L + E402N + S434P ++++++ ++ 268 I106V +Y135Q + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369H + E402N + K495N + G628W t1620a++++++ +++ 269 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L +K495N + G628W +++++ ++ 270 I106V + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369H +E402N + S434P + A475C + K495I + +++++ +++ T540K + G628W 271 I106V +Q258N + Q291W + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495H + G628L +++++ ++ 272D274Y + Q291W + D358K + D369L + E385L + E402N + N437I + S489N g357a++++ + 273 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369H + E402N + S434P + T540K c405t +t1884g ++++ ++ 274 I106V + Q258N + Q291W + D369L + E402N + S434P +A475F + K495H + G628V t1620a ++++ ++ 275 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369L +E402N + S434P + A475C + K495I + G628W t60c + c246t + ++++ +++ c318t +c405t + t1620a 276 I106V + Y135Q + M181Y + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369L + E402N + S434P + t1620a + t1884g ++++ +++ K495N 277 Y135Q +Q258N + Q291W + D369L + E402N + K495N t1620a + t1884g ++++ ++ 278Q119E + D274Y + Q291W + D358K + D369L + E385L + E402N + N437V + S489N +t846c ++++ + S614A 279 Y135Q + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369L + E402N +S434P + A475F + K495N + c318t + c984a + ++++ ++ G628V t1620a 280 R132H +Q258N + Q291W + D369Y + E402N + K495Q c318t + c405t + ++++ + t1620a 281Y135Q + Q258N + Q291W + D369L + E402N + S434P + A475F + K495H ++++ ++282 Y135Q + Q258N + Q291W + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495I + G628V t1620a++++ + 283 I106V + M181Y + Q258N + Q291W + D369L + E402N ++++ + 284I106V + Q258N + Q291W + D369H + E402N + S434P + A475F + K495F + G628Vc405t + t1620a ++++ + 285 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369L + E402N +S434P + G628V ++++ ++ 286 Q258N + Q291W + D369L + E402N + A475F + K495It1620a + t1884g + +++ + c2463t 287 Q119E + D274Y + Q291W + D369L +E385L + E402N + N437I +++ + 288 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L c318t + c405t +++ ++ 289 Q258N + Q291W + D369Y + E402N +S434P + K495H + G628W t1620a +++ + 290 D274Y + Q291W + D369L + E385L +E402N + N437I + S489N + K530C g357a + a1840t +++ + 291 I106V + Y135Q +Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369Y + E402N + S434P + A475F + t1884g +++ +++K495H + T540K 292 Q119E + Q291W + D358K + D369L + E385L + E402N c822t+++ + 293 I106V + M181Y + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369H + E402N +S434P + A475L + c405t + c1581t + +++ ++ K495Q + G628V t1620a 294 Q119E +D274Y + Q291W + D358N + D369L + E385L + E402N + N437D +++ + 295 Q258N +Q291W + D369R + E402N + S434P + G628V +++ + 296 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369H + E402N + S434P + G628L t1620a +++ ++ 297 Q258N + Q291W + D369L +E402N c318t +++ + 298 D274Y + Q291W + D358K + D369L + E385L + E402N +N437F + S614D g357a + t1465a +++ + 299 Q119E + D274Y + Q291W + D358N +D369L + E385L + E402N + N437L + K530V a1840t +++ + 300 Q119E + D274Y +Q291W + D358N + D369L + E385L + E402N + N437V + S489L + a1840t +++ ++K530N 301 Q258N + Q291W + D369L + E402N + S434P + A475F + K495F + T540Kc318t + c405t + +++ + t1884g 302 M181Y + Q291W + Q313M + D369Y + E402Nc318t + c405t +++ + 303 A243V + D274Y + Q291W + D358K + D369L + E402N +N437I + K530C g357a + t1465a + +++ + a1840t 304 Q119E + D274Y + Q291W +D358E + D369L + E385L + E402N + N437V + K530V + t1465a ++ ** S614A 305Q291W + D358K + D369L + E385L + E402N + N437W + K530C + S614A g357a +c822t ++ + 306 Q119E + D274Y + Q291W + D369L + E385L + E402N + N437W ++++ 307 D274Y + Q291W + D358N + D369L + E385L + E402N + N437I + K530N +S614V g357a + t1465a ++ + 308 M181Y + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369L +E402N + S434P c318t + c405t ++ +++ 309 A109T + Q291W + D369L + E402N++ + 310 Q119E + Q291W + D369L + E385L + E402N + N437Y + S489I + K530Nc822t + a1840t ++ ++ 311 Q119E + D274Y + Q291W + D358N + D369L + E402N +N437D a1840t ++ + 312 D274Y + Q291W + D358K + D369L + E385L + E402N +N437W + K530V + S614D g357a + t1465a ++ + 313 Q258N + Q291W + D369R +E402N + A475W + K495H + G628V t1620a ++ + 314 A109S + Q291W + D369L +E402N c1119t ++ + 315 Q119E + D274Y + Q291W + D358E + D369L + E385L +E402N + N437L + S614A c1329t + t1465a ++ + 316 Q291W + D369L + E402N +E493Y + N504Y + T611A c1563t + g1590a ++ + 317 Q119E + D274Y + Q291W +D358K + D369L + E402N + S614V ++ + 318 D274Y + Q291W + D358E + D369L +E385L + E402N + N437L + K530N + S614A g357a + t1465a ++ + 319 Q258H +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + A475F + K495N + G628L t1620a ++ + 320Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369Y + E402N + A475W + K495V + T540K + G628W ++++ 321 D274Y + Q291W + D358N + D369L + E385L + E402N + N437W + S614Vg357a + c936a ++ + 322 I106V + Y135Q + Q291W + Q313M + D369L + E402N +A475L + K495Q t1620a + t1884g ++ ++ 323 Q258N + Q291W + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475F + G628V ++ + 324 Q119E + D274Y + Q291W + D369L + E385L +E402N + N437V t1465a ++ + 325 D274Y + Q291W + D358K + D369L + E385L +E402N + N437Y + S489L + K530V g357a ++ + 326 Q119E + D274Y + Q291W +D358N + D369L + E402N a1840t ++ + 327 Q291W + D369L + E402N + K495V +S501R + A503E + K530N + T611H t1465a ++ + 328 Q119E + D274Y + Q291W +D358N + D369L + E385L + E402N + N437V + S489I + ++ + K530C 329 Q119E +Q291W + D358K + D369L + E402N + N437L + S489N c822t ++ + 330 D274Y +Q291W + D369L + E385L + E402N + N437W + K530C + S614D g357a ++ + 331Q258N + Q291W + D369R + E402N + A475F + K495N + T540K + G628V c318t +c405t ++ + 332 Q291W + D369L + E402N + E493V + N504Y c1563t + t1698c +++ + c1773t + t1872c + c1905t 333 Q291W + D358E + D369L + E385* +E402N + S489T g357a + c822t ++ + 334 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + A475L + K495V + A601T + G628W ++ ++ 335 D274Y + Q291W + D358N +D369L + E385L + E402N + S489N + S614C g357a ++ + 336 D274Y + Q291W +D358K + D369L + E402N + N437V + S489L + K530C + S614A g357a + g1140a++ + 337 Q119E + D274Y + Q291W + D358E + D369L + E402N + N437D a1840t++ + 359 Q291W + D358K + D369L + E385L + E402N + N437I + K530M + S614Lg357a + c822t + + ** t1465a 360 Q291W + D369L + E402N + R672I + ** 361D274Y + Q291W + D358E + D369L + E385L + E402N + N437L + S489L g357a +a1840t + + 362 A265S + Q291W + D369L + E402N + ** 363 Q215M + Q291W +D369L + E402N + + 364 Q291W + D369L + E402N + E493V + N504Y + N521C +T591A + L620M + T635I t1872c + + 365 Q119E + D274Y + Q291W + D369L +E385L + E402N + N437L + S489N + K530M + + + S614D 366 Q119E + Q291W +D369L + E385L + E402N c822t + + 367 Q291W + D369L + E402N + E493A +N504Y + D566G + R612P + L620M + T635A c1563t + c1773t + + + c1863t +t1872c + c2403a 368 Q119E + D274Y + Q291W + D369L + E385L + E402N +S614Y + + 369 I106V + Y135Q + M181Y + Q258N + Q291W + D369L + E402N + ++370 Q119E + Q291W + D358E + D369L + E385L + E402N + N437W + K530Vc822t + + 371 Q215E + Q291W + D369L + E402N + ** 372 Q291W + D369L +E402N + N504Y + N521C + T591A + R612H + L620M + T635I g1479a +t1698c + + + t1872c 373 Q119E + D274Y + Q291W + D358K + D369L + E402N +N437Y + K530I t1465a + a1840t + ** 374 Q258H + Q291W + D369L + E402N +K495N c318t + t1620a + + + t1884g 375 Q291W + D358N + D369L + E385L +E402N + N437D + S489N + K530I g357a + c822t + + + a1840t 376 Q291W +D369L + P374Y + E402N + Y491L + S501R c360t + c1773g + + 377 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + G332D + D369H + E402N + S434P + ++ 378 Q291W + D358N +D369L + E385L + E402N + N437F + S489L + K530V c822t + a1840t + + 379Q291W + D369L + E402N + R672S + ** 380 Q291W + D369L + E402N + T687M + +381 Q291W + F314V + D369L + E402N + + 382 Q258N + Q291W + T357A +D369H + E402N + S434P + K495F t1620a + t1884g + + 383 Q291W + D369L +P374Y + E402N + Y491F + S501R + N521C c360t + c540a + + 384 Q291W +D369L + E402N + Q690K + + 385 Q291W + D358E + D369L + E385L + E402N +N437F + K530V + S614A g357a + c822t + + + t1465a 386 Q291W + D369L +E402N + R672A + ** 387 Q291W + D369L + E402N + R672T + ** 388 Q291W +D369L + E402N + D703K c1947t + ** 389 D274Y + Q291W + D369L + E402Nc1305t + t1465a + + + a1840t 390 Q291W + D369L + E402N + R672F + ** 391Q291W + D369L + E402N + R672D + ** 392 Q291W + D369L + E402N + Y491F +S501R + N536K + D566G c1773g + + 393 Q291W + D369L + E402N + A732G + +394 Q291W + D369L + E402N + E493Y + N504Y + N521C + T591C + R612P +L620M t1698c + t1872c + + + c1905t 395 I106V + Y135Q + Q291W + D369L +E402N + A475F + G628W + + 396 Q291W + D369L + E402N + R672G + ** 397Q291W + D369L + E402N + T777N c2328t + + 398 Q291W + Q313M + D369L +E402N + T540K c318t + c405t + + 399 Q291W + D369L + E402N + K708F + +400 Q291W + D369L + P374Y + E402N + S501H + ** 401 Q291W + D369L +E402N + Y715P c2241t + + 402 Q291W + D369L + E402N + A732M + + 403Q291W + D369L + E402N + E493A + N504Y + N521C + D566G + R612P + L620Mc1773t + t1872c + + + c1905t 404 Q291W + D369L + E402N + Q690R + + 405D274Y + Q291W + D369L + E385L + E402N + N437V + K530I + S614D t1465a +** 406 Q291W + D369L + E402N + L757K c2454t + + 407 Q291W + D369L +E402N + T687Y + + 408 Q291W + D369L + E402N + Y491H + S501R + N521C +T591A + + 409 Q291W + D369L + E402N + V775C + + 410 Q291W + D369L +E402N + R672V + ** 411 Q291W + D369L + E402N + N670D + ** 412 Q291W +D369L + E402N + T779S + ** 413 Q291W + D369L + E402N + V638R + ** 414Q291W + D369L + E402N + T687F + + 415 Q291W + D369L + E402N + T687L + **416 Q291W + D369L + E402N + K610S + ** 417 Q291W + D369L + E402N +Y491L + S501R + N521C c1773g + + 418 D274Y + Q291W + D358E + D369L +E402N + K530V + S614V g357a + ** 419 I106V + M181Y + Q258N + Q291W +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475W + K495V + c405t + ++ T540K + G628V 420Q291W + D369L + E402N + N536K t1501a + c1773g + + 421 Q291W + D369L +E402N + E493V + N504Y + R612P + L620M c1563t + t1698c + + + c1773t +t1872c + c1905t 422 Q291W + D369L + E402N + S676C + ** 423 Q291W +D369L + E402N + T540K + G628W c318t + ** 424 Q291W + D369L + E385L +E402N + N437D + S489L + K530C + S614D g357a + c822t + + 425 Q119E +D274Y + Q291W + D358N + D369L + E402N + N437F + S489N + S614L + + 426Q291W + D369L + E402N + S434P + A475W + K495V t1620a + + 427 Q291W +D369L + E402N + A689I + + 428 Q291W + D369L + E402N + E493A + N504Y +N521C + D566G + R612H + L620M c1773t + t1872c + + + c1905t 429 Q291W +D369L + E402N + V638S + ** 430 Q291W + D369L + E402N + V648W + ** 431Q291W + D369L + E402N + D650V + ** 432 Q291W + D369L + E402N + V674M +** 433 Q291W + D369L + E402N + V638E + ** 434 I106V + Q291W + D369L +E402N t1884g + + 435 Y135Q + Q291W + D369L + E402N t1884g + ** 436Q291W + D369L + E402N + S764F + + 437 Q291W + D369L + E402N + E493A +N504Y + A505C + N521C + T591A + R612P t1698c + t1872c + + + c1905t 438Q291W + D369L + E402N + S489N + K495Q + S501R + K530N + T611Q c1509g + +439 Q291W + D369L + E402N + T685V + + 440 I106V + Q291W + D369L +E402N + S434P + A475C + K495N + T540K + + 441 Q119E + Q291W + D358N +D369L + E402N + N437D + K530N + S614V c822t + + 442 Q291W + D369L +E402N + T687K + + 443 Q291W + D369L + E402N + S652D + + 444 Q291W +D369R + E402N + A475F + K495Q + T540K + G628L + + 445 Y135Q + Q291W +D369L + E402N + G628V c318t + ** 446 Q291W + D369L + E402N + E493Y +A505C + N521C + T591A + L620M t1512c + t1698c + + + t1872c + c1905t 447Q291W + D369L + E402N + T687W + + 448 Q291W + D369L + E402N + D650F + **449 Q291W + D369L + E402N + T687C + + 450 Q291W + D369L + E402N +S434P + K495N + G628V + ** 451 Q291W + D369L + E402N + S501N c540a +c1773g + * 452 D274Y + Q291W + D369L + E402N + N437K + S489I + K530V +S614L g357a + + 453 Q291W + D369L + E402N + T699L + + 454 Q119E +V246I + Q291W + D358E + D369L + E402N + S614L c267t + ** 455 Q291W +D369L + E402N + N504Y + N521C + D566G + L620M + T635A g1479a + c1773t +** + t1872c 456 Q291W + D369L + E402N + E493Y + N504Y + D566G + T591A +R612P + L620M c1563t + t1872c + ** + c1905t 457 Q291W + D369L + E402N +N536K + T591A ** + 458 Q291W + D369L + E402N + Q690A ** + 459 Q291W +D358K + D369L + E402N + N437L + S489I + K530D g357a + c822t + ** **c1458t + a1840t 460 Q119E + D274Y + Q291W + D358E + D369L + E385L +E402N + N437V + S489N + ** + K530M + S614H 461 Q291W + D369L + P374Y +E402N + Y491L ** ** 462 Q291W + D369L + E402N + S501R c1773g+ ** + 463Q291W + D369L + E402N + Y491L + N521C + N536K c360t + c540a + ** +t1501a + c1773g 464 Q291W + D369L + E402N + E493Y + N504Y + N521C +T591C + R612P + L620M + t1698c + t1872c ** + T635V 465 Q119E + Q291W +D358N + D369L + E385L + E402N + N437I + S489I + S614L c822t ** ++ 466T120Y + Q291W + D369L + E402N + S501R + N521C + D566G c1773g ** + 467Q291W + D369L + E402N + Y491L + N521C t1501a ** ** 468 Q291W + D369L +E402N + Y491L + S501N + D566G + T591A ** ** 469 D274Y + N278Y + Q291W +D358E + D369L + E402N + N437Y + S489L + K530E g357a ** + 470 I106V +Q291W + D369L + E402N + S434P + A475W + K495F + T540K + G628V c405t +a636g ** + 471 Q119E + Q291W + D358N + D369L + E402N + N437Y + E742Gc822t ** ** 472 Y135Q + Q291W + D369Y + E402N + A475F + K495F t1620a +t1884g ** ** 473 T120H + Q291W + D369L + E402N + Y491H + S501H +T591C * + 474 Q119E + Q291W + D358N + D369L + E402N + N437F + S489N +K530E + S614L c822t * + 475 Q119E + D274Y + Q291W + D358N + D369L +E402N + N437I + S489N + K530V + * + S614Y 476 T120Y + Q291W + D369L +E402N + N521C + N536K c540a + c1773g * ++ 477 Q291W + D369L + E402N +Y491F + S501N + N521C + N536K + T591R c360t * + 478 Q291W + D369L +E402N + S501N + N521C + D566G + T591R c1473t * ** 479 Q291W + D369L +E402N + Y491L + S501R + N536K + D566G + T591R * + 480 D274Y + Q291W +D358E + D369L + E402N + N437Y + S489N + K530I + S614L g357a * ** ¹Aminoacid changes are indicated with respect to SEQ ID NO: 2; the backbonesequence contains substitutions Q291W + D369L + E402N. ²Nucleotidechanges are indicated relative to SEQ ID NO: 1. ³Fold improvement isrepresented as follows: * = 0.3 to 0.5 fold improvement over Variant 3(SEQ ID NO: 5) ** = 0.6 to 1 fold improvement over Variant 3 (SEQ ID NO:5) + = 1.1 to 1.9 fold improvement over Variant 3 (SEQ ID NO: 5) ++ =2.0 to 2.9 fold improvement over Variant 3 (SEQ ID NO: 5) +++ = 3.0 to3.9 fold improvement over Variant 3 (SEQ ID NO: 5) ++++ = 4.0 to 4.9fold improvement over Variant 3 (SEQ ID NO: 5) +++++ = 5.0 to 5.9 foldimprovement over Variant 3 (SEQ ID NO: 5) ++++++ = 6.0 to 6.9 foldimprovement over Variant 3 (SEQ ID NO: 5)

TABLE 4 Table 4: Thermoactivity conditions: pH 4.5, 70° C. for 21 hrs.Thermostability conditions: enzyme residual activity was determinedafter incubated at pH 4.5, 70° C. for 2 hrs. Stability Fold ActivityFold improvement Variant Silent Nucleotide improvement over Var. NumberAmino Acid Changes¹ Changes² over Var. 269³ 269³ 269 Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W 481 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ++++ ++ K495N + G628W +A689I + Y715P 482 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + g1290a + g2160a +++ + K495N + G628W + Y715P + T823K 483 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N + G628W +T685V + Y715P + 484 I106V + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + ++ + A475L + K495N + G628W + S764F 485 A109T + Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + I428V + ++ + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W 486Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ + Y491F +K495N + G628W + Y715P 487 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + Q381V +E402N + S434P + ++ + A475L + K495N + S501R + G628W + Y715P 488 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N + G628W +S764F 489 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E385L + E402N + S434P + ++ +A475L + K495N + G628W 490 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N + N627H + G628W + A732G 491 Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + c852t ++ + K495N + G628W + A689I492 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N +G628W + T685V + Y715P + T777N 493 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N + G628W + D650Y + Q716R + L757K 494Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N +G628W + Y715P 495 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + c729t ++ ** K495N + V562L + G628W 496 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N + A505C + G628W + S764F 497Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + ++ ++ A475L +K495N + G628W 498 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + ++ + K495N + G628W + Y715P + E819V 499 A109T + Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + ++ + A475L + K495N + G628W 500 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + c27t ++ + K495N +G628W + S652D + V846F 501 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + + + K495N + G628W + Q690K 502 D47I + Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + ++ A475L + K495N + G628W 503 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + + + A475L + K495N +G628W 504 E21Q + V175A + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + c249t +** S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W 505 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + E360D +D369R + E402N + S434P + + ** A475L + K495N + G628W + L757K 506 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + F314L + D369R + E402N + S434P + + + A475L + K495N +S604I + N627H + G628W + A732G 507 A109T + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + + + A475L + K495N + G628W + V775C 508 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + + K495N + G628W +S764F 509 P29Q + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + **A475L + K495N + G628W 510 A136L + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + + + A475L + K495N + G628W + S764F + P870S 511 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E385L + E402N + S434P + c1425g + + K495N + G628W512 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + g2160a + +K495N + G628W + T687M 513 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + + ** K495N + N588F + G628W 514 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D358K + D369R + E402N + S434P + c951a + + A475L + K495N + G628W 515Y135M + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + t1341c + +A475L + K495N + G628W + Y715P 516 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + + ** K495N + G628W + T785L 517 A79G + Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + + A475L + K495N + G628W 518A109T + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + + A475L +K495N + G628W + S848N 519 I106V + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + F314V +D369R + E402N + + + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W 520 Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + + K495N + G628W + A732G 521Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + + K495N +G628W + L757K 522 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + + + K495N + N627H + G628W + T687M + E822K 523 Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + + K495N + G616D + G628W 524A79M + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + + A475L +K495N + G628W 525 I106V + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + + + A475L + K495N + G628W 526 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + F314V +D369R + E402N + S434P + + ** A475L + K495N + A617V + G628W 527 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + F314V + D369R + E402N + S434P + + + A475L + K495N +G628W 528 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + P436Q + + +A475L + K495N + G626D + G628W 529 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + + + K495N + G628W + T687C 530 Q85N + Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + + A475L + K495N + G628W 531A109S + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + + A475L +K495N + N536K + G628W 532 S58G + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + + + A475L + K495N + G628W 533 E21Q + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + Q381V + E402N + + ** S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W 534 Q258N +L275Y + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + + A475L + K495N +G628W 535 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + **K495N + A505C + G628W 536 E21R + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + + ** A475L + K495N + G628W 537 V25A + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + + + A475L + K495N + G628W 538 H26R + Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + t282c + ** A475L + K495N + G628W539 L30K + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + * A475L +K495N + G628W 540 N45H + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + + ** A475L + K495N + G628W 541 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + + ** E493V + K495N + G628W 542 P29R + Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + * A475L + K495N + G628W 543P29M + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + c21t + c1911t +** A475L + K495N + G628W + A732S + A748T + V840I 544 Q55R + Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + ** A475L + K495N + G628W 545K24G + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + + A475L +K495N + G628W 546 G180E + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + + ** A475L + K495N + G628W 547 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + K495N + c1425g + ** G628W 548 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + + Q479R + K495N + S501R + G628W +Y715P + E819L 549 A79E + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + + + A475L + K495N + G628W 550 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + + ** K495N + G628W + R672G 551 Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + F314V + D369R + E402N + S434P + g2493a + + A475L + K495N +A505C + G628W 552 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + + + K495N + G628W + T687K 553 Q27R + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + c1689g + ** A475L + K495N + G628W 554 V253F +Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + + A475L + K495N +G628W 555 S22L + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + **A475L + K495N + G628W 556 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + a321t + + K495N + G628W + Q690H 557 Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + ** K495N + G628W + S799N 558Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + F314V + E360D + D369R + E402N + + + S434P +A475L + K495N + G628W 559 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + + + K495N + G628W + E822M 560 K24T + Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + + A475L + K495N + G628W 563 S22L +Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + + A475L + Q479R +K495N + G628W 561 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + + + K495N + G628W + S787G 562 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + + * K495N + R612H + G628W + L757K + S787G 564Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + ** K495N +G628W + T687K + E822M 565 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + M454E + + ** A475L + K495N + G628W 566 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + ** K495N + V562C + G628W 567 S22R +Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + ** A475L + K495N +G628W 568 V25G + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +c2478t + ** A475L + K495N + G628W 569 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + c1842t + ** K495N + G628W + T685V 570 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + A404S + S434P + + ** A475L + K495N +G628W 571 G216L + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + **A475L + K495N + G628W 572 V25R + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + + ** A475L + K495N + G628W 573 V25G + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + + ** A475L + K495N + G628W 574 Q27H + Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + ** A475L + K495N + G628W 575K24L + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + ** A475L +K495N + G628W 576 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + + ** K495N + G628W + D650F + L757K 577 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + ** T482A + K495N + G628W 578 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + ** K495N + A617V +G628W 579 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + **K495N + S501C + G628W 580 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + K495N + c1425g + + N536K + G628W + R817P 582 Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + ** K495N + G628W + T777N 581G180E + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + ** A475L +R476Q + K495N + G628W 583 Q119E + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + + + A475L + K495N + G628W 584 A109S + Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + g558a + t1296c + + + K495N + G628W +S848N c1425g 585 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + + ** K495N + G628W + Y850H 586 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + P436E + + ** A475L + K495N + G628W 587 Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + ** K495N + G628W + R769H +E819A 588 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + **K495N + T496A + G628W 589 Q258N + V260L + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + + ** A475L + K495N + G628W 590 D244H + Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + c814t + ** A475L + K495N + G628W 591Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + c1197a + **K495N + G628W + E819V 592 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + + ** K495N + G628W + S652D 593 Q258N + Q291W + D311N +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + g1479a + * A475L + K495N + R612H +G628W + A689I + K866I 594 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + c1917t + + K495N + G628W + T783H 595 Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + ** K495N + G628W + T823K 596Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + ** K495N +G628W + D650N + S787G 597 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + g1869a + + K495N + G628W + K708F 598 Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + E360D + D369R + E402N + S434P + + ** A475L + K495N + G628W +S652D 599 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L +a321g + ** K495N + G628W + E822G 600 L237Y + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + + + A475L + K495N + G628W 601 Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + ** E494K + K495N + G628W 602Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + E360D + D369R + E402N + S434P + c312t + *D470N + A475L + K495N + G628W + L757K 603 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ** + K495N + G628W + S764F 604 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ** ** K495N + G628W +D650F 605 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ** **K495N + G628W + S848N 606 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + ** ** K495N + T496A + N536K + G628W 607 Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + K421R + S434P + ** ** A475L + K495N + G628W +T777N 608 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ** **K495N + N627H + G628W + E822M 609 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + t1944g + c1962t ** ** K495N + G628W + F634A 610A4V + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + c1635t ** **A475L + K495N + G628W 611 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + N437W + ** ** A475L + K495N + G628W 612 Y135Q + Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + ** + A475L + K495N + G628W 613 Y135Q +Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + t99c ** ** A475L +K495N + G628W + V673A + T685V 614 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + ** ** K495N + G628W + L757K + P806L 615 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + c1476t ** ** K495N +V559T + G628W 616 Y135M + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + ** ** A475L + K495N + G628W 617 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + ** + K495N + G628W + V775C 618 Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ** ** K495N + N627H + G628W 619Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + A405T + S434P + ** ** A475L +K495N + G628W 620 I221V + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + ** ** A475L + K495N + G628W 621 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + ** ** K495N + S501R + G628W + T685V 622 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + A394G + E402N + S434P + ** + A475L + K495N +G628W + L757K 624 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + ** + K495N + G616D + G628W 623 P161S + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D358K + D369R + E402N + ** * S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W 625 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ** + K495N + G628W +K807R 626 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ** +K495N + G628W + A732M 627 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + ** ** K495N + A505C + G628W + E822G 628 Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ** + E493V + K495N + G628W +S652D 629 A15V + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + ** +A475L + K495N + G628W 630 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + ** ** K495N + G628W + K866Q 631 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ** + E493A + K495N + G628W + S652D +Q690A 632 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ** **K495N + G628W + E819L 633 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + ** + K495N + G628W + E819V 634 G180E + Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E385L + E402N + ** ** S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W 635Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + g2430a ** **K495N + G628W + D751N 636 G202M + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + ** ** A475L + K495N + N627H + G628W + T687K + E822A 637Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ** ** K495N +G628W + K866I 638 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + ** ** K495N + G628W + T783Q 639 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369L +E402N + S434P + A475L + ** ** K495N + G628W 640 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ** ** E493Y + K495N + A505C + G628W 641Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ** + T482A +K495N + G628W + D646N 642 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + ** + A477G + K495N + G628W + S764F + S848N 643 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + c1434t ** + K495N +G628W + I847T 644 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + g2472a ** + K495N + G628W + T685V + Y850Q 645 Y135M + Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + ** + A475L + K495N + S501R +G628W + T685V + T777N 646 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + ** + K495N + G628W + Y850Q ¹Amino acid changes areindicated with respect to SEQ ID NO: 2; the backbone sequence containssubstitutions Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L +K495N + G628W ²Nucleotide changes are indicated relative to SEQ IDNO: 1. ³Fold improvement is with respect to Variant 269 (SEQ ID NO: 7) *= 0.2 to 0.5 fold improvement ** = 0.6 to 1.0 fold improvement + = 1.1to 1.9 fold improvement ++ = 2.0 to 2.9 fold improvement +++ = 3.0 to3.9 fold improvement ++++ = 4.0 to 4.9 fold improvement

TABLE 5 Table 5: Thermoactivity conditions: pH 4.2, 70° C. for 21 hrs.Thermostability conditions: enzyme residual activity was determinedafter incubated at pH 4.5, 70° C. for 3 hrs. Silent Activity FoldStability Fold Variant Nucleotide improvement improvement Number AminoAcid Changes¹ Changes² over Var. 481³ over Var. 481³ 481 Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P647 D47I + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + ++++ ++++ K495N + G628W + T687K + A689I + Y715P 648 A109S +Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + ++++ ++A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P 649 A109T + Q258N + V260G +Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + ++++ ++ A475L + K495N +G628W + T687W + A689I + Y715P + S764F 650 D47I + Q258N + V260G + Q291W +Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + +++ + A475L + K495N + G628W +T687C + A689I + Y715P + S764F 651 Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M +A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + c2292t +++ + K495N + G628W +A689I + Y715P 652 D47I + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + +++ + K495N + G628W + T687C + A689I + Y715P 653 D47I +A109T + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + +++ ++S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P 654 Q258N + V260G +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + +++ ++ G628W +T687W + A689I + Y715P 655 Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + +++ + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P +S764F 656 Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + K495N + +++ + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 657 D47I + A109T +Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + +++ + S434P +A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + S764F 658 Q258N + V260G +Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + +++ + K495N +G628W + A689I + Y715P + S764F 659 D47I + A109T + Q258N + V260G + Q291W +Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + +++ + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W +A689I + Y715P + S764F 660 D47I + A109T + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M +A343C + D369R + E402N + ++ + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I +Y715P 661 A109T + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R +E402N + S434P + ++ ++ A475L + K495N + G628W + T687C + A689I + Y715P 662D47I + I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314L + D369R + E402N +++ ++ S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 663 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + ++ +G628W + T687W + A689I + Y715P 664 I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W +Q313M + F314L + D369R + E402N + S434P + c1425g ++ + K495N + G628W +A689I + Y715P + A732G 665 Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314L +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P 666D47I + A109S + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N +++ + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + T687W + A689I + Y715P 667 Q258N +V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314V + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + c747t++ + K495N + G628W + S652D + A689I + Y715P + A732G 668 Q258N + V260G +Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N +G628W + A689I + Y715P 669 I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M +F314V + D369R + E402N + S434P + ++ ++ A475L + K495N + G628W + S652D +A689I + Y715P + A732G 670 Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P +S764F 671 D47I + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N +S434P + ++ + A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P 672 I106V + Q258N +V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314L + D369R + E402N + S434P + ++ + A475L +K495N + G628W + S652D + A689I + Y715P + A732M 673 A109T + Q258N +V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N +G628W + A689I + Y715P + S764F 674 Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M +A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N + G628W + A689I +Y715P 675 Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343G + D369R + E402N +S434P + Q474L + ++ + A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P 676 D47I +Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + ++ +A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + S764F 677 D47I + A109T + Q258N +V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + t300c ++ + A475L +K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + S764F 678 Q258N + V260G + Q291W +Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N + G628W +A689I + Y715P + S764F 679 D47I + A109T + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M +A343C + D369R + E402N + ++ + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I +Y715P 680 Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + S764F 681 Q258N +V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + ++ +G628W + A689I + Y715P 682 D47I + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C +D369R + E402N + S434P + ++ + A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P 683Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N +++ + G628W + A689I + Y715P 684 A109T + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M +A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + ++ + A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I +Y715P 685 I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + ++ ++ K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G + P870S 686Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N +++ + G628W + A689I + Y715P 687 I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M +F314V + D369R + E402N + S434P + ++ ++ A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I +Y715P + A732M 688 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + F314V + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + K495N + ++ + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 689 I106V +Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ +K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732V 690 Q258N + V260G + Q291W +Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N + G628W +A689I + Y715P 691 Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P 692 D47I +I106V + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + F314L + D369R + E402N + S434P + ++ +A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 693 Q258N + V260G +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + c306t ++ +G628W + A689I + Y715P 694 Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + ++ + G628W + A689I + Y715P 695 Q258N +V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + c1425g++ + S652D + A689I + Y715P + A732G 696 D47I + I106V + Q258N + V260G +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + c1425g ++ ++ K495N + G628W +S652D + A689I + Y715P + A732G 697 D47I + I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + c1425g ++ + K495N + G628W + S652D +A689I + Y715P 698 Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P 699 C8A +L9F + D47I + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +c1425g ++ + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 700 D47I + Q258N +V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314V + D369R + E402N + S434P + ++ + A475L +K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G + D844G 701 Q258N + V260G +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + ++ + G628W +A689I + Y715P 702 I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ ++ K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 703D47N + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314V + D369R + E402N + S434P +++ ++ A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 704 Q258N + V260G +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + ++ + G628W +A689I + Y715P 705 D47I + I106V + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N + G628W + S652D + A689I + Y715P + A732M 706A109T + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N +++ + G628W + T687W + A689I + Y715P 707 Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M +A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N + G628W + A689I +Y715P 708 V25A + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L +K495N + ++ + G628W + A689I + Y715P 709 D47I + Q258N + V260G + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N + G628W + A689I +Y715P + A732M 710 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + K495N + G628W + ++ + T687W + A689I + Y715P 711 D47I + I106V +Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314V + D369R + E402N + ++ ++ S434P +A475L + K495N + G628W + S652D + A689I + Y715P 712 D47I + A109T + Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + ++ + A475L + K495N +G628W + A689I + Y715P 713 D47I + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + ++ + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + S764F 714Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N +c1173t + + G628W + T687K + A689I + Y715P 715 A109T + Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + + K495N + G628W +A689I + Y715P + S764F 716 Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + + + G628W + A689I + Y715P 717 D47I +I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + +A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P 718 Q258N + V260G + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + + + G628W + A689I +Y715P + S764F 719 Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314L + D369R +E402N + S434P + K495N + c1425g + + G628W + S652D + A689I + Y715P 720Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L +K495N + + + G628W + A689I + Y715P 721 Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M +A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + + K495N + G628W + A689I +Y715P 722 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L +K495N + G628W + + + A689I + Y715P + S764F 723 Q258N + V260G + Q291W +Q313M + F314V + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + c1425g + + G628W +A689I + Y715P 724 L237Y + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C +D369R + E402N + S434P + + ** A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P 725Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L +K495N + + + G628W + A689I + Y715P 726 Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + + + G628W + A689I + Y715P 727Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L +K495N + + + G628W + A689I + Y715P 728 Q85N + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + + + G628W + A689I + Y715P +L757K 729 Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + K495N + + + G628W + A689I + Y715P 730 Q258N + V260G + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + g2235a + + G628W +A689I + Y715P 731 Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + K495N + + + S604C + G628W + A689I + Y715P 732 D47I +Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + +R476G + K495N + N588F + G628W + D651E + A689I + Y715P 733 Q85N + Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + P436Q + A475L + + + K495N +G628W + A689I + Y715P + L757K 734 I106V + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + + + G628W + A689I + Y715P +A732M 735 Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + K495N + + + G628W + A689I + Y715P 736 Q258N + V260G + Q291W +Q313M + F314L + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + + K495N + G628W +A689I + Y715P 737 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +K495N + G628W + S652D + c1425g + + A689I + Y715P + A732G 738 A109T +Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + +K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P 739 D47I + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + F314L +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + c2277a + + K495N + G628W + A689I +Y715P + Y736N 740 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + F314L + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + K495N + + + G628W + S652D + A689I + Y715P + A732G 741V25A + Q85N + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +P436Q + + + A475L + K495N + G616D + G628W + D650Y + A689I + Y715P +L757K 742 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L +K495N + G628W + + + A689I + Y715P + S764F 743 V253F + Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + + + G628W + A689I +Q690K + D709E + E710G + Y715P 744 Q85N + V175A + Q258N + L275Y + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + + A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I +Y715P 745 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L +K495N + G628W + + ** A689I + Q690K + Y715P 746 V25A + Q85N + Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + + K495N + G616D +G628W + A689I + Y715P + L757K 747 Q85N + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + + + G628W + A689I + Y715P 748 V25A +Q85N + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + c57a + +K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P 749 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + + ** T687C + A689I + Y715P 750Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N +G628W + + + A689I + Q690H + Y715P + M816L 751 V25A + Q85N + Q258N +L275Y + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + + A475L + K495N +G616D + G628W + A689I + Y715P + V846F 752 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + + + A689I + Y715P +V846Q 753 A79E + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L +K495N + + ** G626D + G628W + A689I + Y715P 754 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + + ** G628W + A689I +Y715P 755 A79E + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L +K495N + + + A505C + G628W + A689I + Y715P 756 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +F314L + D369R + Q381V + E402N + S434P + A475L + + + K495N + G628W +A689I + Y715P 757 D47I + I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + c1704t + + A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P 758Q85N + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L +K495N + + + G628W + A689I + Y715P 759 V25A + Q85N + Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + P436Q + + + A475L + K495N + G628W +A689I + Y715P + L757K + V846Q 760 V25A + Q85N + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + P436Q + g2274t + + A475L + K495N + G628W +D650N + A689I + Y715P 761 D47I + I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + + + A475L + K495N + S550C + G628W + S652D +A689I + Y715P + A732G 762 A109S + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + + K495N + S604A + G628W + A689I +Y715P 763 V25A + Q85N + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + + + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + V846Q 764 D47I + Q258N +V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + + K495N +G628W + A689I + Y715P 765 A109T + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + + + G628W + A689I + Y715P 766 Q258N +V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314L + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N +c1425g + + N588F + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732M 767 Q85N + Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + + + G616D +G628W + A689I + Y715P 768 V25A + Q85N + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + P436Q + + + A475L + K495N + G616D + G628W + D650N +A689I + Y715P 769 A79E + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + K495N + + + A505C + G628W + V674I + A689I + Y715P 770 V25A +Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N +c483t + + G628W + A689I + Y715P + L757K 771 V25A + Q85H + Q258N +L275F + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + + A475L + K495N +G628W + D650N + A689I + Y715P + L757I 772 K24T + A79E + A136L + Q258N +D274Y + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + + + S434P + A475L + K495N +A505C + G628W + A689I + Y715P 773 V25A + Q85N + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P 774Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N +G628W + + ** A689I + Y715P 775 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + g633a + ** A689I + Y715P 776 K24G +A79E + Q258N + D274Y + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + **A475L + K495N + A505C + G628W + A689I + Y715P 777 Q85N + V175A + Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + + + K495N + G628W +A689I + Y715P 778 V25A + Q85N + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + + + K495N + G628W + D650N + A689I + Y715P 779 V25A +Q85N + Q258N + L275Y + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + + +A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + L757K 780 A79M + Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + + + A505C + G628W +A689I + Y715P 781 Q85N + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +P436Q + A475L + + + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P+ 782 Q85N + Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + + + G628W +A689I + Y715P 783 Q85N + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + K495N + + + G628W + A689I + Y715P 784 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + + + A689I + Y715P 785Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L +K495N + + ** G628W + A689I + Y715P 786 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + + ** A689I + Y715P 787 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + + **A689I + Y715P 788 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + K495N + G628W + + + A689I + Y715P 789 Q85N + Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + g927a + + G628W +A689I + Y715P 790 I106V + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + K495N + ** + G628W + A689I + Y715P 791 D47I + Q258N +V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ** + K495N +S604A + G628W + A689I + Y715P 792 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + ** + A689I + Y715P 793 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + ** **A689I + Y715P 794 V25A + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + K495N + ** ** G628W + A689I + Y715P 795 Q258N + V260G + Q291W +Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + Q474I + ** + A475L + K495N +G628W + A689I + Y715P + S764F 796 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + A343C +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + ** + G628W + A689I + Y715P 797D47I + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N +** + N588F + G628W + A689I + Y715P 798 S58G + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + Q381V + E402N + S434P + A475L + ** + K495N + G628W + A689I +Y715P 799 V253F + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + K495N + ** + G628W + A689I + Y715P + T785L + M816L 800 A243G +Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + ** +K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + S764F 801 I106V + Q258N + V260G +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + c597t ** ++ K495N +N588F + G628W + S652D + A689I + Y715P + D733G 802 Q258N + Q291W +Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + ** ** A689I +Y715P + V846L 803 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + K495N + S604A + ** + G628W + A689I + Y715P 804 A79G + Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + ** + G628W +A689I + Y715P + T777N 805 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + ** ** A689I + Y715P 806 V25A + Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + ** ** G628W +A689I + Y715P 807 K24T + A79E + Q258N + D274Y + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + ** + A475L + K495N + A505C + G628W + A689I + Y715P +T777N 808 D47I + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + ** + K495N + S604V + G628W + T687C + A689I + Y715P + S764F +L869R 809 Q258N + D274Y + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E385L + E402N +S434P + A475L + ** ** K495N + G626D + G628W + A689I + Y715P + T777N 810S58G + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + Q381V + E402N + S434P + N437D +c489t ** ** A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I + Q690H + D709E + E710G +Y715P 811 D47I + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N +S434P + ** + Q474I + A475L + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P 812 Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + N437K + A475L + K495N + ** +G628W + A689I + Y715P + T785L 813 A109S + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + ** + S604I + G628W + A689I +Y715P 814 Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + K495N + c624t ** + S604V + G628W + A689I + Y715P + K807R 815Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N +** + S604V + G628W + A689I + Y715P 816 Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + ** ** A689I + Y715P + L757K 817D47I + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + N588F +c1425g ** + G628W + S652D + A689I + Y715P 818 A79M + A136L + Q258N +D274Y + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + ** + A475L + K495N +A505C + G628W + A689I + Y715P + T783A 819 D47I + A109T + Q258N + V260G +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + ** + A475L + K495N + S604V +G628W + A689I + Y715P + S764F 820 S58G + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + * ** G628W + A689I + Y715P + T785L 821K24G + A136L + Q258N + D274Y + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P +g240a * ** A475L + K495N + A505C + G628W + A689I + Y715P + T777N 822S58G + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + Q381V + E402N + S434P + A475L +c2007t * + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + T785L 823 S58G + Q258N +Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + * ** G628W +A689I + Y715P + T785L + M816L ¹Amino acid changes are indicated withrespect to SEQ ID NO: 2; the backbone sequence contains substitutionsQ258N + Q291W + Q313M + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W +A689I + Y715P. ²Nucleotide changes are indicated relative to SEQ IDNO: 1. ³Fold improvement is with respect to Variant 481 (SEQ ID NO:9): * = 0.2 to 0.5 fold improvement ** = 0.6 to 1.0 fold improvement + =1.1 to 1.9 fold improvement ++ = 2.0 to 2.9 fold improvement +++ = 3.0to 3.9 fold improvement ++++ = 4.0 to 4.9 fold improvement

TABLE 6 Table 6: Thermoactivity conditions: pH 4, 70° C. for 21 hrs.Thermostability conditions: enzyme residual activity was determinedafter incubated at pH 4.5, 70° C. for 24 hrs. Amino acid and silentnucleotide changes are indicated with respect to wild type sequence.Silent Activity Fold Stability Fold Variant Nucleotide improvement overimprovement over Number Amino Acid Changes¹ Changes² Var. 647³ Var. 647³647 D47I + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + K495N + G628W + T687K + A689I + Y715P 824 D47I + A79G + Q85N +Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + ++++ + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + K495N + G628W + T687K + A689I + Y715P + A732M 825 D47I + Q258N +V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314L + A343C + ++++ + D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + K495N + G628W + T687C + A689I + Y715P + A732G 826 D47I + A79E +Q85N + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + c1947t +++ ++ E402N +S434P + A475L + K495N + A505C + G628W + T687W + A689I + Y715P 827 D47I +A79E + Q85N + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314L + +++ ** A343C +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + T687K + A689I + Y715P828 D47I + A79G + Q85N + Q258N + V260G + L275Y + Q291W + Q313M + c1677t+++ ++ F314V + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + A505C +G628W + T687C + A689I + Y715P + S764Y + R769H 829 D47I + A79G + Q85N +Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314V + +++ ++ A343C + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + T687K + A689I + Y715P 830 D47I + A79M +Q85N + Q258N + V260G + L275Y + Q291W + Q313M + +++ ++ F314L + A343C +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + A505C + G628W + T687K + A689I +Y715P 831 D47I + A79M + Q85N + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R +t756c +++ ++ E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + A505C + G628W + T687C +A689I + Y715P + A732G 832 D47I + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314V +A343C + +++ + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + A505C + G628W + T687C +A689I + Y715P + A732G 833 D47I + A79M + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M +F314V + +++ ** A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + T687K +A689I + Y715P + A732G 834 D47I + Q258N + L275Y + Q291W + Q313M + F314V +A343C + +++ + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + T687K + A689I +Y715P + A732G 835 D47I + A79E + Q85N + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M +F314V + +++ ++ A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + A505C + G628W +T687W + A689I + Y715P + A732V 836 D47I + A79M + Q258N + V260G + Q291W +Q313M + A343C + +++ * D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + A505C + G628W +T687K + A689I + Y715P + A732M 837 D47I + Q85N + Q258N + V260G + Q291W +Q313M + F314V + +++ ** A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N +G628W + T687C + A689I + Y715P 838 D47I + A79G + Q258N + V260G + L275Y +Q291W + Q313M + +++ + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N +G628W + T687K + A689I + Y715P + A732G 839 D47I + Q258N + V260G + Q291W +Q313M + F314V + A343C + +++ ++ D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N +G628W + T687W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 840 D47I + Q258N + V260G + Q291W +Q313M + F314V + A343C + +++ ** D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N +G628W + T687K + A689I + Y715P + A732M 841 D47I + A79G + Q85N + Q258N +V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + +++ ** D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L +K495N + G628W + T687K + A689I + Y715P 842 D47I + A79G + Q85N + Q258N +V260G + L275Y + Q291W + Q313M + +++ ** F314V + A343C + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + T687C + A689I + Y715P + A732G 843 D47I +A79G + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + +++ ** D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + T687K + A689I + Y715P + A732M 844 D47I +Q85N + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + +++ + D369R + E402N +S434P + K495N + G628W + T687K + A689I + Y715P 845 D47I + Q85N + Q258N +V260G + L275Y + Q291W + Q313M + +++ + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P +K495N + G628W + T687K + A689I + Y715P + A732G 846 D47I + A79M + Q85N +Q258N + V260G + L275Y + Q291W + Q313M + +++ * A343C + D369R + E402N +S434P + K495N + G628W + T687W + A689I + Y715P 847 D47I + A79G + Q85N +Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + +++ ** D369R + E402N + S434P +A475L + K495N + A505C + G628W + T687K + A689I + Y715P 848 D47I + Q258N +V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314V + A343C + c498t +++ + D369R + E402N +S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + T687C + A689I + Y715P + A732G 849 D47I +A79G + Q85N + Q258N + V260G + L275Y + Q291W + Q313M + +++ ++ F314V +A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + T687K + A689I +Y715P 850 D47I + Q85N + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + +++ ++E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + T687W + A689I + Y715P + A732G851 D47I + A79G + Q85N + Q258N + V260G + L275Y + Q291W + Q313M + c1335t+++ ** F314V + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + A505C +G628W + T687C + A689I + Y715P 852 D47I + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M +A343C + D369R + +++ + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + A505C + G628W +T687K + A689I + Y715P + A732G 853 D47I + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + F314V +A343C + D369R + +++ ++ E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + T687W +A689I + Y715P + A732G 854 D47I + A79G + Q85N + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M +F314V + A343C + +++ ** D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + T687K +A689I + Y715P 855 D47I + A79M + Q85N + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + A343C +D369R + +++ * E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + T687K + A689I +Y715P + A732G 856 D47I + Q85N + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314V ++++ * A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + T687K +A689I + Y715P 857 D47I + Q85N + Q258N + L275Y + Q291W + Q313M + F314V ++++ ++ A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + T687C + A689I +Y715P 858 D47I + A79G + Q85N + Q258N + V260G + L275Y + Q291W + Q313M ++++ ** F314V + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W +T687K + A689I + Y715P + A732G 859 D47I + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M +A343C + D369R + c1377t ++ + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W +T687K + A689I + Y715P 860 D47I + Q85N + Q258N + V260G + L275Y + Q291W +Q313M + ++ + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W +T687K + A689I + Y715P 861 D47I + A79G + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + F314L +A343C + + ++ D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + T687K +A689I + Y715P 862 D47I + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + F314V + A343C +D369R + + + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + T687K + A689I + Y715P 863D47I + Q258N + V260G + L275Y + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + + + D369R +E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + A505C + G628W + D646N + T687K + A689I +Y715P + A732G 864 D47I + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C +D369R + + + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + T687K + A689I +Y715P 865 D47I + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314V + A343C + + +D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + T687K + A689I + Y715P + A732V866 D47I + A79G + Q85N + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + + *E402N + S434P + P439S + A475L + K495N + G628W + T687K + A689I + Y715P867 D47I + Q85N + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + F314V + A343C + + + D369R +D395N + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + T687K + A689I + Y715P +A732V 868 D47I + A79G + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + A343C + D369R + ** +E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + A505C + G628W + T687C + A689I + T693A +Y715P + T827I 869 D47I + Q85N + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + A343C +t237g ** + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + A505C + G628W +T687K + A689I + Y715P + A732V 870 D47I + A79G + Q258N + L275Y + Q291W +Q313M + A343C + a2185c ** + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N +A505C + G628W + T687K + A689I + T693E + N723G + A730S + Y855* ¹Aminoacid changes are indicated with respect to SEQ ID NO: 2; the backbonesequence contains substitutions D47I + Q258N + Q291W + Q313M + A343C +D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L + K495N + G628W + T687K + A689I + Y715P.²Nucleotide changes are indicated relative to SEQ ID NO: 1. ³Foldimprovement is with respect to Variant 647 (SEQ ID NO: 15): * = 0.2 to0.5 fold improvement ** = 0.6 to 1.0 fold improvement + = 1.1 to 1.9fold improvement ++ = 2.0 to 2.9 fold improvement +++ = 3.0 to 3.9 foldimprovement ++++ = 4.0 to 4.9 fold improvement

TABLE 7 Table 7: Thermoactivity conditions: pH 4, 70° C. for 21 hrs.Thermostability conditions: enzyme residual activity was determinedafter incubated at pH 4.5, 70° C. for 24 hrs. Silent Activity FoldStability Fold Variant Nucleotide improvement over Var. improvement overNumber Amino Acid Changes¹ Changes² 664³ Var. 664³ 664 I106V + Q258N +V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314L + D369R + c1425g E402N + S434P + K495N +G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 871 D47I + A79E + Q85N + I106V + A109T +Q258N + V260G + Q291W + c1425g ++ + Q313M + F314V + A343C + D369R +E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 872 D47I + A79E +Q85N + I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + c1425g +++ + F314V +A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + A505C + G628W + A689I + Y715P +A732G 873 A79M + Q85N + I106V + A109T + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + c246t +c1425g + +++ + Q313M + F314V + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N +c2346t G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 874 D47I + A79E + I106V + A109T +Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + c1425g +++ + F314L + A343C + D369R +E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 875 D47I + A79G +Q85N + I106V + A109T + Q258N + V260G + L275Y + c1425g +++ + Q291W +Q313M + F314L + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I +Y715P + A732G 876 A79E + Q85N + I106V + A109T + Q258N + V260G + Q291W +c1425g +++ + Q313M + F314L + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N +G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 877 A79G + Q85N + I106V + A109T + Q258N +V260G + L275F + Q291W + c1425g +++ + Q313M + F314V + A343C + D369R +E402N + S434P + K495N + A505C + G628W + T687C + A689I + Y715P + A732G878 D47I + I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314L + c1425g ++ +A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G879 D47I + A79E + Q85N + I106V + A109S + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + c1425g++ + Q313M + F314V + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W +A689I + Y715P + A732G 880 D47I + A79E + Q85N + I106V + Q258N + V260G +L275Y + Q291W + c1425g ++ ** Q313M + F314L + N315D + D369R + E402N +S434P + K495N + A505C + G628W + T687W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 881 D47I +Q85N + I106V + Q258N + V260G + L275Y + Q291W + Q313M + c1425g ++ +F314L + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G882 A79E + Q85N + I106V + A109S + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + c1425g ++ +Q313M + F314V + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P +A732G 883 A79G + I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314V + c1425g++ + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + T687W + A689I +Y715P + A732G 884 D47I + A79G + Q85N + I106V + Q258N + V260G + L275Y +Q291W + c1425g + g2235a ++ + Q313M + F314L + A343C + D369R + E402N +S434P + K495N + A505C + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 885 D47I + Q85N +I106V + A109S + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + c1425g+ ++ + F314V +A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G886 D47I + A79E + Q85N + I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + c811t +c1425g ++ + F314L + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W +A689I + Y715P + A732G 887 D47I + A79M + Q85N + I106V + Q258N + V260G +Q291W + Q313M + c1425g ++ + F314V + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P +K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 888 D47I + I106V + A109T + Q258N +V260G + Q291W + Q313M + c1425g + c1806t ++ + F314V + A343C + D369R +E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 889 D47I + A79G +Q85N + I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + c1425g ++ + F314V +D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + A505C + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G890 A79M + I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314L + c1425g ++ +D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 891 A79M +Q85N + I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + c1425g ++ + F314L +A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + A505C + G628W + A689I + Y715P +A732G 892 A79M + Q85N + I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + c1425g++ + F314V + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I +Y715P + A732G 893 D47I + A79G + Q85N + I106V + A109S + Q258N + V260G +Q291W + c1425g + c2541t ++ + Q313M + F314L + D369R + E402N + S434P +K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 894 A79E + Q85H + I106V + Q258N +V260G + Q291W + Q313M + c540t + c1425g ++ + F314L + D369R + E402N +S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 895 D47I + A79G + Q85N +I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + c1425g ++ + F314L + D369R +E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 896 A79G + Q85N +I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + c1425 ++ + F314L + A343C +D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 897 D47I +A79E + Q85N + I106V + Q258N + V260G + L275Y + Q291W + c1425g ++ +Q313M + F314L + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I +Y715P + A732G 898 D47I + I106V + A109T + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M +c468t + c1425g ++ + F314V + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W +A689I + Y715P + A732G 899 C8G + D47I + Q85N + I106V + Q258N + V260G +Q291W + Q313M + c1425g ++ + F314L + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N +G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 900 A79E + Q85N + I106V + Q258N + V260G +Q291W + Q313M + c1425g ++ + F314L + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N +G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 901 A79G + Q85N + I106V + Q258N + V260G +Q291W + Q313M + c1425g ++ + F314L + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P +K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 902 D47I + A79G + Q85N + I106V +Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + c1425g ++ + F314L + A343C + D369R +E402N + S434P + K495N + T591I + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 903 Q85N +I106V + A109T + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + g150a + c1425g ++ +F314V + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P +A732G 904 A79M + I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314V + c1425g++ + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P +A732G 905 Q85N + I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314V + c1425g++ + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P +A732G 906 Q85N + I106V + A109S + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + c1425g++ + F314L + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + A505C + G628W + A689I +Y715P + A732G 907 I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314L +D369R + c1425g ++ ** E402N + S434P + K495N + A505C + G628W + T687K +A689I + Y715P + A732G 908 Q85N + I106V + A109T + Q258N + V260G + Q291W +Q313M + c1425g ++ + F314V + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W +A689I + Y715P + A732G 909 D47I + Q85N + I106V + A109T + Q258N + V260G +Q291W + Q313M + t237g + c1425g ++ + F314V + A343G + D369R + E402N +S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 910 D47I + Q85N + I106V +A109T + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + c1425g ++ + F314L + A343C +D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 911 D47I +Q85N + I106V + A109S + Q258N + V260G + L275Y + Q291W + c1425g ++ +Q313M + F314L + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I +Y715P + A732G 912 D47I + I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314V +c933t + c1425g ++ + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W +A689I + Y715P + A732G 913 I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M +F314V + D369R + c1425g ++ ** E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I +Y715P + A732G 914 D47I + I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314L +c1425g ++ ** A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I +Y715P + A732G 915 D47I + Q85N + I106V + A109S + Q258N + V260G + L275Y +Q291W + ++ + Q313M + F314V + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + A475L +K495N + G628W + T687C + A689I + Y715P + A732G 916 D47I + A79M + I106V +Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314L + c1425g ++ + D369R + E402N +S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 917 A79G + Q85N + I106V +A109S + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + c1425g ++ + Q313M + F314V + D369R +E402N + S434P + K495N + A505C + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 918 D47I +A79E + Q85N + I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + c1425g ++ +F314L + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G919 Q85N + I106V + Q258N + V260G + L275Y + Q291W + Q313M + c1425g ++ **F314V + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + T687W + A689I +Y715P + A732G 920 I106V + Q258N + V260G + L275Y + Q291W + Q313M +F314L + c1425g ++ ** A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W +A689I + Y715P + A732G 921 D47I + Q85N + I106V + A109T + Q258N + V260G +Q291W + Q313M + c1425g ++ + F314V + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N +G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 922 Q85N + I106V + A109S + Q258N + V260G +L275Y + Q291W + c1425g ++ + Q313M + F314V + A343C + D369R + E402N +S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 923 D47I + A79M + I106V +A109S + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + c1425g ++ + F314L + A343C +D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G 924 A79M +Q85N + I106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + c1425g ++ + F314L +A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G925 A79M + Q85N + I106V + Q258N + V260G + L275Y + Q291W + c699t + c1425g++ ** Q313M + F314L + A343C + D369R + E402N + S434P + K495N + A505C +G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G ¹Amino acid changes are indicated withrespect to SEQ ID NO: 2; the backbone sequence contains substitutionsI106V + Q258N + V260G + Q291W + Q313M + F314L + D369R + E402N + S434P +K495N + G628W + A689I + Y715P + A732G. ²Nucleotide changes are indicatedrelative to SEQ ID NO: 1. ³Fold improvement is with respect to Variant664 (SEQ ID NO: 13) * = 0.2 to 0.5 fold improvement ** = 0.6 to 1.0 foldimprovement + = 1.1 to 1.9 fold improvement ++ = 2.0 to 2.9 foldimprovement +++ = 3.0 to 3.9 fold improvement

Table 8 illustrates exemplary properties of C1 Bgl variants withincreased thermoactivity and/or thermostability compared to thewild-type enzyme.

TABLE 8 An exemplary embodiment has at least x than fold greater variantExemplary See x= activity No.: under conditions: Variant(s) Table 5Thermoactivity wildtype pH 5, 65° C., 21 h 3 2 2 Thermostability*wildtype pH 5, 65° C., 6 h 3 2 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 Thermoactivity 3 pH 5,70° C., 21 h 269 3 1.1, 2, or 3 Thermostability 3 pH 5, 65° C., 16 h 2693 2, 3, or 4 Thermoactivity 269 pH 4.5, 70° C., 21 h 481 4 1.1 or 2Thermostability 269 pH 4.5, 70° C., 2 h 481 4 2, 3, or 4 Thermoactivity481 pH 4.2, 70° C., 21 h 647 5 1.1, 2, or 4 Thermostability 481 pH 4.5,70° C., 3 h 647 5 3 or 4 Thermoactivity 647 pH 4, 70° C., 21 h 824, 8256 1.1 or 2 Thermostability 647 pH 4.5, 70° C., 24 h 824, 825 6 2 or 3Thermoactivity 664 pH 4, 70° C., 21 h 871, 885, 916 7 1.1Thermostability 664 pH 4.5, 70° C., 24 h 871, 885, 916 7

For example, in some embodiments, a variant has at least 5-fold greaterthermoactivity and/or at least 2-fold greater thermostability thanwildtype Bgl1. For example and not limitation, Variant 3 has theseproperties. For example, in another embodiment, a variant has at least4-fold greater thermoactivity and/or at least 4-fold greaterthermostability than Variant 481 Bgl1. For example and not limitation,Variant 647 has these properties.

The amino acid sequences of β-glucosidase variants not specificallydescribed herein can be readily generated and identified using methodsthat are well known to those having ordinary skill in the art. Someβ-glucosidase variants of the invention having at least 70% sequenceidentity to residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2 and one or more substitutionsdisclosed herein, also have one or more substitutions, deletions orinsertions in addition to those specifically disclosed herein. Theeffect, if any, of such substitutions, deletions or insertions onβ-glucosidase activity and thermostability can be determined usingassays known in the art and described herein (see e.g., Examples 3 and5, infra). For illustration, variant number 1 in Table 2 has thefollowing substitutions relative to residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2:M181Y+Q291W+E402N+S434P. To determine the effect of a furthersubstitution (e.g., replacement of isoleucine at position 20 withleucine) the variant (in this case, I20L+M181Y+Q291W+E402N+S434P) isexpressed and its properties compared to the parent (in this case,M181Y+Q291W+E402N+S434P).

Further, libraries of β-glucosidase polypeptide variants (andpolynucleotides encoding the variants) may be generated from a parentalsequence (e.g., such as one or more variants exemplified herein) andscreened using the high throughput screen for presence of β-glucosidaseactivity described in, for example, Example 5. Mutagenesis and directedevolution methods known in the art can be readily applied topolynucleotides encoding β-glucosidase variants exemplified herein togenerate variant libraries that can be expressed, screened, and assayedusing the methods described herein. Mutagenesis and directed evolutionmethods are well known in the art. See, e.g., Ling, et al., 1999,“Approaches to DNA mutagenesis: an overview”, Anal. Biochem.,254(2):157-78; Dale, et al., 1996, “Oligonucleotide-directed randommutagenesis using the phosphorothioate method”, Methods Mol. Biol.,57:369-74; Smith, 1985, “In vitro mutagenesis”, Ann. Rev. Genet.,19:423-462; Botstein, et al., 1985, “Strategies and applications of invitro mutagenesis”, Science, 229:1193-1201; Carter, 1986, “Site-directedmutagenesis”, Biochem. J., 237:1-7; Kramer, et al., 1984, “PointMismatch Repair”, Cell, 38:879-887; Wells, et al., 1985, “Cassettemutagenesis: an efficient method for generation of multiple mutations atdefined sites”, Gene, 34:315-323; Minshull, et al., 1999, “Proteinevolution by molecular breeding”, Current Opinion in Chemical Biology,3:284-290; Christians, et al., 1999, “Directed evolution of thymidinekinase for AZT phosphorylation using DNA family shuffling”, NatureBiotechnology, 17:259-264; Crameri, et al., 1998, “DNA shuffling of afamily of genes from diverse species accelerates directed evolution”,Nature, 391:288-291; Crameri, et al., 1997, “Molecular evolution of anarsenate detoxification pathway by DNA shuffling”, Nature Biotechnology,15:436-438; Zhang, et al., 1997 “Directed evolution of an effectivefucosidase from a galactosidase by DNA shuffling and screening”,Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A., 94:45-4-4509;Crameri, et al., 1996, “Improved green fluorescent protein by molecularevolution using DNA shuffling”, Nature Biotechnology, 14:315-319;Stemmer, 1994, “Rapid evolution of a protein in vitro by DNA shuffling”,Nature, 370:389-391; Stemmer, 1994, “DNA shuffling by randomfragmentation and reassembly: In vitro recombination for molecularevolution”, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A.,91:10747-10751; WO 95/22625; WO 97/0078; WO 97/35966; WO 98/27230; WO00/42651; and WO 01/75767, all of which are incorporated herein byreference.

In generating variants that comprise substitutions, insertions ordeletions at positions in addition to those described supra, theordinarily skilled practitioner will be aware that certain regions ofthe β-glucosidase protein are less tolerant than others to substitutions(especially non-conservative substitutions). Thus, in some embodiments,variant Bgl1 proteins retain conserved residues and functional domainsfrom the parent.

β-Glucosidase Activity and Thermostability Assays

β-glucosidase activity can be determined by methods described inExamples 3 and 5, as well as any other methods known in the art.β-glucosidase activity may be determined, for example, using apara-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (pNPG) assay or using a cellobioseassay.

For example, a colorimetric pNPG(p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside)-based assay may be used to measureβ-glucosidase activity. One such assay is described in Example 3, infra.In another exemplary pNPG assay, in a total volume of 100 μL, 20 μLclear media supernatant containing β-glucosidase enzyme is added to 4 mMpNPG (Sigma-Aldrich, Inc. St. Louis, Mo.) solution in 50 mM sodiumphosphate buffer at pH 5. The reactions are incubated at pH 5, 50° C.for 1.5 hours. The reaction mixture is quenched with 100 μL of 1M sodiumcarbonate pH 11 solution. The absorbance of the solution is measured at405 nm to determine the conversion of pNPG to p-nitrophenol. The releaseof p-nitrophenol (ε=17,700 M−1 cm⁻¹) is measured at 405 nm to calculateβ-glucosidase activity. Detectable β-glucosidase activity is observedunder high throughput screening conditions (pH 7, 50° C.). See Breves etal., 1997, Appl. Environmental Microbiol. 63:3902, incorporated hereinby reference.

Alternatively, β-glucosidase activity may be determined using an assayin which cellobiose is the substrate. One suitable assay is described inExample 3, infra. Another suitable assay is carried out as follows: In atotal volume of 100 μL, 25 μL clear media supernatant containingβ-glucosidase enzyme is added to 10 g/L cellobiose (Fluka Cat. No.22150, Sigma-Aldrich, Inc., St. Louis, Mo.) in 100 mM sodium phosphatebuffer (pH 6-7) or sodium acetate buffer (pH 5-5.5). The reaction isincubated at 45-70° C. for an appropriate time (25 minutes to overnightdepending on the enzyme concentration) while shaking. Glucose productionmay be determined using any number of art-known methods for measuringglucose. In one approach, glucose production is determined using anenzymatic glucose assay (K-GLUC, Megazyme, Ireland). 10 μl of eachreaction is added to 190 μl GOPOD reagent (supplied as part of theK-GLUC assay kit). The reaction is incubated at 45° C. for 20 minutesand the absorbance of the solution was measured at 510 nm. The GOPODreagent contains 50 mM Potassium phosphate buffer pH7.4, 0.011Mp-hydroxybenzoic acid, 0.008% w/v sodium azide, glucose oxidase (>12,000U/L), peroxidase (>650 U/L) and 80 mg/L 4-aminoantipyrine. The glucoseoxidase enzyme in the reagent reacts with any glucose present in thesample and produces hydrogen peroxide which then reacts with the4-aminoantipyrine to produce a quinoneimine dye in quantitiesproportionate with the amount of glucose present and can be measuredspectrophotometrically at 510 nm.

Signal Peptide

In general, the β-glucosidase polypeptides are secreted from the hostcell in which they are expressed (e.g., a yeast or fungal cell) and areexpressed as a pre-protein including a signal peptide, i.e., an aminoacid sequence linked to the amino terminus of a polypeptide and whichdirects the encoded polypeptide into the cell secretory pathway. In oneembodiment, the signal peptide is the endogenous C1 β-glucosidase signalpeptide having the sequence set forth as residues 1-19 of SEQ ID NO:2.In other embodiments, signal peptides from other C1 secreted proteinsare used.

Still other signal peptides may be used, depending on the host cell andother factors. Effective signal peptide coding regions for filamentousfungal host cells include, but are not limited to, the signal peptidecoding regions obtained from Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase,Aspergillus niger neutral amylase, Aspergillus niger glucoamylase,Rhizomucor miehei asparatic proteinase, Humicola insolens cellulase,Humicola lanuginosa lipase, and T. reesei cellobiohydrolase II (TrCBH2).

Effective signal peptide coding regions for bacterial host cells are thesignal peptide coding regions obtained from the genes for Bacillus NCIB11837 maltogenic amylase, Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-amylase,Bacillus licheniformis subtilisin, Bacillus licheniformis β-lactamase,Bacillus stearothermophilus neutral proteases (nprT, nprS, nprM), andBacillus subtilis prsA. Further signal peptides are described by Simonenand Palva, 1993, Microbiol Rev 57: 109-137 (incorporated herein byreference).

Useful signal peptides for yeast host cells also include those from thegenes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor, Saccharomycescerevisiae SUC2 invertase (see Taussig and Carlson, 1983, Nucleic AcidsRes 11:1943-54; SwissProt Accession No. P00724), and others. See, e.g.,Romanos et al., 1992, Yeast 8:423-488. Variants of these signal peptidesand other signal peptides are suitable.

Fusion Polypeptides and Additional Sequence Elements

In some embodiments, a β-glucosidase polypeptide variant of theinvention includes additional sequences which do not alter the encodedactivity of a β-glucosidase. For example, the β-glucosidase may belinked to an epitope tag or to other sequence useful in β-glucosidasepurification.

The present invention also provides β-glucosidase variant fusionpolypeptides, wherein the fusion polypeptide comprises an amino acidsequence encoding a β-glucosidase variant polypeptide of the presentinvention or fragment thereof, linked either directly or indirectlythrough the N- or C-terminus of the β-glucosidase variant polypeptide toan amino acid sequence encoding at least a second (additional)polypeptide. The β-glucosidase variant fusion polypeptide may furtherinclude amino acid sequence encoding a third, fourth, fifth, oradditional polypeptides. Typically, each additional polypeptide has abiological activity, or alternatively, is a portion of a polypeptidethat has a biological activity, where the portion has the effect ofimproving expression and/or secretion of the fusion polypeptide from thedesired expression host. These sequences may be fused, either directlyor indirectly, to the N- or C-terminus of the β-glucosidase variantpolypeptide or fragment thereof, or alternatively, to the N- orC-terminus of the additional polypeptides having biological activity.

Typically, the additional polypeptide(s) encode an enzyme or activefragment thereof, and/or a polypeptide that improves expression and/orsecretion of the fusion polypeptide from the desired expression hostcell. More typically, the additional polypeptide(s) encode(s) acellulase (for example, a β-glucosidase having a different amino acidsequence from the β-glucosidase variant polypeptide in the fusionpolypeptide (e.g., a wildtype β-glucosidase or a variant thereof,including a different T. aurentiacus β-glucosidase variant polypeptide),or a polypeptide exhibiting CBH or EG activity) and/or a polypeptidethat improves expression and secretion from the desired host cell, suchas, for example, a polypeptide that is normally expressed and secretedfrom the desired expression host, such as a secreted polypeptidenormally expressed from filamentous fungi. These include glucoamylase,α-amylase and aspartyl proteases from Aspergillus niger, Aspergillusniger var. awamori, and Aspergillus oryzae, cellobiohydrolase I,cellobiohydrolase II, endoglucanase I and endoglucase III fromTrichoderma and glucoamylase from Neurospora and Humicola species. SeeWO 98/31821, which is incorporated herein by reference.

The polypeptide components of the fusion polypeptide may be linked toeach other indirectly via a linker. Linkers suitable for use in thepractice of the present invention are described in WO 2007/075899, whichis incorporated herein by reference. Exemplary linkers include peptidelinkers of from 1 to about 40 amino acid residues in length, includingthose from about 1 to about 20 amino acid residues in length, and thosefrom about 1 to about 10 amino acid residues in length. In someembodiments, the linkers may be made up of a single amino acid residue,such as, for example, a Gly, Ser, Ala, or Thr residue or combinationsthereof, particularly Gly and Ser. Linkers employed in the practice ofthe present invention may be cleavable. Suitable cleavable linkers maycontain a cleavage site, such as a protease recognition site. Exemplaryprotease recognition sites are well known in the art and include, forexample, Lys-Arg (the KEX2 protease recognition site, which can becleaved by a native Aspergillus KEX2-like protease), Lys and Arg (thetrypsin protease recognition sites). See, for example, WO 2007/075899,which is incorporated herein by reference.

IV. β-Glucosidase Polynucleotides and Expression Systems

The present invention provides polynucleotide sequences that encode C1β-glucosidase variants of the invention. The C1 genomic and cDNAsequences are described in Section II, supra.

In one embodiment, for expression of a β-glucosidase variant describedherein, the wild-type C1 β-glucosidase cDNA sequence (SEQ ID NO:1), orthe portion thereof comprising the open reading frame, can be used (withchanges as required at codons corresponding to substitutions (residuesmutated relative to the wild-type sequence). In addition, one or more ofthe “silent” nucleotide changes shown in Table 2, Table 3, Table, 4,Table 5, Table 6, or Table 7 can be incorporated.

Those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that due to thedegeneracy of the genetic code, a multitude of nucleotide sequencesencoding β-glucosidase polypeptides of the present invention exist.Table 9 provides the standard triplet genetic code for each amino acid.For example, the codons AGA, AGG, CGA, CGC, CGG, and CGU all encode theamino acid arginine. Thus, at every position in the nucleic acids of theinvention where an arginine is specified by a codon, the codon can bealtered to any of the corresponding codons described above withoutaltering the encoded polypeptide. It is understood that U in an RNAsequence corresponds to T in a DNA sequence. The invention contemplatesand provides each and every possible variation of nucleic acid sequenceencoding a polypeptide of the invention that could be made by selectingcombinations based on possible codon choices.

A DNA sequence may also be designed for high codon usage bias codons(codons that are used at higher frequency in the protein coding regionsthan other codons that code for the same amino acid). The preferredcodons may be determined in relation to codon usage in a single gene, aset of genes of common function or origin, highly expressed genes, thecodon frequency in the aggregate protein coding regions of the wholeorganism, codon frequency in the aggregate protein coding regions ofrelated organisms, or combinations thereof. Codons whose frequencyincreases with the level of gene expression are typically optimal codonsfor expression. In particular, a DNA sequence can be optimized forexpression in a particular host organism. References providingpreference information for a wide range of organisms are readilyavailable See e.g., Henaut and Danchin in “Escherichia Salmonella”,Neidhardt, et al. Eds., ASM Pres, Washington D.C. (1996), pp. 2047-2066,which is incorporated herein by reference. For illustration, and not forlimitation, SEQ ID NO:3 shows a C1 Bgl1-encoding polynucleotide sequencedesigned with codon biasing for expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

TABLE 9 GENETIC CODE Amino acid Codon Alanine Ala A GCA GCC GCG GCUCysteine Cys C UGC UGU Aspartic acid Asp D GAC GAU Glutamic acid Glu EGAA GAG Phenylalanine Phe F UUC UUU Glycine Gly G GGA GGC GGG GGUHistidine His H CAC CAU Isoleucine Ile I AUA AUC AUU Lysine Lys KAAA AAG Leucine Leu L UUA UUG CUA CUC CUG CUU Methionine Met M AUGAsparagine Asn N AAC AAU Proline Pro P CCA CCC CCG CCU Glutamine Gln QCAA CAG Arginine Arg R AGA AGG CGA CGC CGG CGU Serine Ser SAGC AGU UCA UCC UCG UCU Threonine Thr T ACA ACC ACG ACU Valine Val VGUA GUC GUG GUU Tryptophan Trp W UGG Tyrosine Tyr Y UAC UAU

A variety of methods are known for determining the codon frequency(e.g., codon usage, relative synonymous codon usage) and codonpreference in specific organisms, including multivariate analysis, forexample, using cluster analysis or correspondence analysis, and theeffective number of codons used in a gene (see GCG CodonPreference,Genetics Computer Group Wisconsin Package; Codon W, John Peden,University of Nottingham; McInerney, J. 0, 1998, Bioinformatics14:372-73; Stenico et al., 1994, Nucleic Acids Res. 222437-46; Wright,F., 1990, Gene 87:23-29; Wada et al., 1992, Nucleic Acids Res.20:2111-2118; Nakamura et al., 2000, Nucl. Acids Res. 28:292; Henaut andDanchin, “Escherichia coli and Salmonella”, 1996, Neidhardt, et al.Eds., ASM Press, Washington D.C., p. 2047-2066, all of which areincorporated herein be reference). The data source for obtaining codonusage may rely on any available nucleotide sequence capable of codingfor a protein. These data sets include nucleic acid sequences actuallyknown to encode expressed proteins (e.g., complete protein codingsequences-CDS), expressed sequence tags (ESTs), or predicted codingregions of genomic sequences (see for example, Mount, D.,Bioinformatics: Sequence and Genome Analysis, Chapter 8, Cold SpringHarbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 2001; Uberbacher, E.C., 1996, Methods Enzymol. 266:259-281; Tiwari et al., 1997, Comput.Appl. Biosci. 13:263-270, all of which are incorporated herein byreference).

For expression of a β-glucosidase variant in a C1 or M. thermophiliahost, the wild-type C1 β-glucosidase cDNA sequence (SEQ ID NO:1), or theportion thereof comprising the open reading frame, can be used (withchanges as required at codons corresponding to substitutions (residuesmutated relative to the wild-type sequence). In addition, one or more ofthe “silent” nucleotide changes shown in Table 2 can be incorporated.These changes may affect β-glucosidase activity in a variety of ways.For example, without intending to be bound by a particular mechanism,silent mutations may increase the stability of mRNAs encoding thevariant protein.

Expression Vectors

The present invention makes use of recombinant constructs comprising asequence encoding a β-glucosidase as described above. In a particularaspect the present invention provides an expression vector comprising aβ-glucosidase polynucleotide operably linked to a heterologous promoter.Expression vectors of the present invention may be used to transform anappropriate host cell to permit the host to express β-glucosidaseprotein. Methods for recombinant expression of proteins in fungi andother organisms are well known in the art, and a number expressionvectors are available or can be constructed using routine methods. See,e.g., Tkacz and Lange, 2004, ADVANCES IN FUNGAL BIOTECHNOLOGY FORINDUSTRY, AGRICULTURE, AND MEDICINE, KLUWER ACADEMIC/PLENUM PUBLISHERS.New York; Zhu et al., 2009, Construction of two Gateway vectors for geneexpression in fungi Plasmid 6:128-33; Kavanagh, K. 2005, FUNGI: BIOLOGYAND APPLICATIONS Wiley, all of which are incorporated herein byreference.

Nucleic acid constructs of the present invention comprise a vector, suchas, a plasmid, a cosmid, a phage, a virus, a bacterial artificialchromosome (BAC), a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC), and the like,into which a nucleic acid sequence of the invention has been inserted.Polynucleotides of the present invention can be incorporated into anyone of a variety of expression vectors suitable for expressing apolypeptide. Suitable vectors include chromosomal, nonchromosomal andsynthetic DNA sequences, e.g., derivatives of SV40; bacterial plasmids;phage DNA; baculovirus; yeast plasmids; vectors derived fromcombinations of plasmids and phage DNA, viral DNA such as vaccinia,adenovirus, fowl pox virus, pseudorabies, adenovirus, adeno-associatedvirus, retroviruses and many others. Any vector that transduces geneticmaterial into a cell, and, if replication is desired, which isreplicable and viable in the relevant host can be used.

In one aspect of this embodiment, the construct further comprisesregulatory sequences, including, for example, a promoter, operablylinked to the protein encoding sequence. Large numbers of suitablevectors and promoters are known to those of skill in the art.

Promoter/Gene Constructs

As discussed above, to obtain high levels of expression in a particularhost it is often useful to express C1 β-glucosidase under control of aheterologous promoter. Typically a promoter sequence may be operablylinked to the 5′ region of the C1 β-glucosidase coding sequence usingroutine methods.

Examples of useful promoters for expression of β-glucosidasepolynucleotides include promoters from fungi. For example, promotersequences that drive expression of genes other than the β-glucosidase 1gene in C1 may be used. For example, a fungal promoter from a geneencoding cellobiohydrolase may be used.

Examples of other suitable promoters useful for directing thetranscription of the nucleotide constructs of the present invention in afilamentous fungal host cell are promoters obtained from the genes forAspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, Rhizomucor miehei aspartic proteinase,Aspergillus niger neutral alpha-amylase, Aspergillus niger acid stablealpha-amylase, Aspergillus niger or Aspergillus awamori glucoamylase(glaA), Rhizomucor miehei lipase, Aspergillus oryzae alkaline protease,Aspergillus oryzae triose phosphate isomerase, Aspergillus nidulansacetamidase, and Fusarium oxysporum trypsin-like protease (WO 96/00787,which is incorporated herein by reference), as well as the NA2-tpipromoter (a hybrid of the promoters from the genes for Aspergillus nigerneutral alpha-amylase and Aspergillus oryzae triose phosphateisomerase), promoters such as cbh1, cbh2, egl1, egl2, pepA, hfb1, hfb2,xyn1, amy, and glaA (Nunberg et al., 1984, Mol. Cell Biol., 4:2306-2315,Boel et al., 1984, EMBO J. 3:1581-85 and EPA 137280, all of which areincorporated herein by reference), and mutant, truncated, and hybridpromoters thereof. In a yeast host, useful promoters can be from thegenes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase (eno-1), Saccharomycescerevisiae galactokinase (gal1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae alcoholdehydrogenase/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (ADH2/GAP), andS. cerevisiae 3-phosphoglycerate kinase. Other useful promoters foryeast host cells are described by Romanos et al., 1992, Yeast 8:423-488,incorporated herein by reference. Promoters associated with chitinaseproduction in fungi may be used. See, e.g., Blaiseau and Lafay, 1992,Gene 120243-248 (filamentous fungus Aphanocladium album); Limon et al.,1995, Curr. Genet, 28:478-83 (Trichoderma harzianum), both of which areincorporated herein by reference.

Promoters known to control expression of genes in prokaryotic oreukaryotic cells or their viruses and which can be used in someembodiments of the invention include SV40 promoter, E. coli lac or trppromoter, phage lambda P_(L) promoter, tac promoter, T7 promoter, andthe like. In bacterial host cells, suitable promoters include thepromoters obtained from the E. coli lac operon, Streptomyces coelicoloragarase gene (dagA), Bacillus subtilis levansucranse gene (sacB),Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase gene (amyl), Bacillusstearothermophilus maltogenic amylase gene (amyM), Bacillusamyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase gene (amyQ), Bacillus subtilis xylA andxylB genes and prokaryotic β-lactamase gene.

Any other promoter sequence that drives expression in a suitable hostcell may be used. Suitable promoter sequences can be identified usingwell known methods. In one approach, a putative promoter sequence islinked 5′ to a sequence encoding a reporter protein, the construct istransfected into the host cell (e.g., a C1 cell) and the level ofexpression of the reporter is measured. Expression of the reporter canbe determined by measuring, for example, mRNA levels of the reportersequence, an enzymatic activity of the reporter protein, or the amountof reporter protein produced. For example, promoter activity may bedetermined by using the green fluorescent protein as coding sequence(Henriksen et al, 1999, Microbiology 145:729-34, incorporated herein byreference) or a lacZ reporter gene (Punt et al, 1997, Gene, 197:189-93,incorporated herein by reference). Functional promoters may be derivedfrom naturally occurring promoter sequences by directed evolutionmethods. See, e.g. Wright et al., 2005, Human Gene Therapy, 16:881-892,incorporated herein by reference.

An expression vector optionally contains a ribosome binding site fortranslation initiation, and a transcription terminator, such as Pinll.The vector also optionally includes appropriate sequences for amplifyingexpression, e.g., an enhancer.

In addition, expression vectors of the present invention optionallycontain one or more selectable marker genes to provide a phenotypictrait for selection of transformed host cells. Suitable marker genesinclude those coding for antimicrobial resistance such as, ampicillin(ampR), kanamycin, chloramphenicol, or tetracycline resistance. Furtherexamples include the antimicrobial streptomycin or spectinomycin (e.g.,the aada gene), the streptomycin phosphotransferase (spt) gene codingfor streptomycin resistance, the neomycin phosphotransferase (nptll)gene encoding kanamycin or geneticin resistance, the hygromycinphosphotransferase (hpt) gene coding for hygromycin resistance.Additional selectable marker genes include dihydrofolate reductase orneomycin resistance for eukaryotic cell culture, and tetracycline orampicillin resistance in E. coli.

Synthesis and Manipulation of β-Glucosidase Polynucleotides

Polynucleotides encoding β-glucosidase can be prepared using methodsthat are well known in the art. Typically, oligonucleotides of up toabout 40 bases are individually synthesized, then joined (e.g., byenzymatic or chemical ligation methods, or polymerase-mediated methods)to form essentially any desired continuous sequence. For example,polynucleotides of the present invention can be prepared by chemicalsynthesis using, for example, the classical phosphoramidite methoddescribed by Beaucage, et al., 1981, Tetrahedron Letters, 22:1859-69, orthe method described by Matthes, et al., 1984, EMBO J. 3:801-05, both ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference. These methods are typicallypracticed in automated synthetic methods. According to thephosphoramidite method, oligonucleotides are synthesized, e.g., in anautomatic DNA synthesizer, purified, annealed, ligated and cloned inappropriate vectors.

In addition, essentially any nucleic acid can be custom ordered from anyof a variety of commercial sources, such as The Midland CertifiedReagent Company (Midland, Tex.), The Great American Gene Company(Ramona, Calif.), ExpressGen Inc. (Chicago, Ill.), Operon TechnologiesInc. (Alameda, Calif.), and many others.

Polynucleotides may also be synthesized by well-known techniques asdescribed in the technical literature. See, e.g., Carruthers, et al.,1982, Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol., 47:411-18 and Adams et al.,1983, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 105:661, both of which are incorporated hereinby reference. Double stranded DNA fragments may then be obtained eitherby synthesizing the complementary strand and annealing the strandstogether under appropriate conditions, or by adding the complementarystrand using DNA polymerase with an appropriate primer sequence.

General texts that describe molecular biological techniques which areuseful herein, including the use of vectors, promoters, protocolssufficient to direct persons of skill through in vitro amplificationmethods, including the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the ligasechain reaction (LCR), and many other relevant methods, include Bergerand Kimmel, Guide to Molecular Cloning Techniques, Methods in Enzymologyvolume 152 Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, Calif. (Berger); Sambrook etal., Molecular Cloning—A Laboratory Manual (2nd Ed.), Vol. 1-3, ColdSpring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989 (“Sambrook”)and Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, F. M. Ausubel et al., eds.,Current Protocols, a joint venture between Greene Publishing Associates,Inc. and John Wiley & Sons, Inc., (supplemented through 2009)(“Ausubel”), all of which are incorporated herein by reference.Reference is made to Berger, Sambrook, and Ausubel, as well as Mullis etal., (1987) U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,202; PCR Protocols A Guide to Methodsand Applications (Innis et al. eds) Academic Press Inc. San Diego,Calif. (1990) (Innis); Arnheim & Levinson (Oct. 1, 1990) C&EN 36-47; TheJournal Of NIH Research (1991) 3, 81-94; (Kwoh et al. (1989) Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 86, 1173; Guatelli et al. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.USA 87, 1874; Lomell et al. (1989) J. Clin. Chem. 35, 1826; Landegren etal., (1988) Science 241, 1077-1080; Van Brunt (1990) Biotechnology 8,291-294; Wu and Wallace, (1989) Gene 4, 560; Barringer et al. (1990)Gene 89, 117, and Sooknanan and Malek (1995) Biotechnology 13: 563-564,all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Methods for cloningin vitro amplified nucleic acids are described in Wallace et al., U.S.Pat. No. 5,426,039, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Expression Hosts

The present invention also provides engineered (recombinant) host cellsthat are transformed with an expression vector or DNA construct encodingβ-glucosidase. Optionally, β-glucosidase expression in the cell is underthe control of a heterologous promoter. Host cells of the invention maybe used to produce β-glucosidase polypeptides. Thus, the presentinvention is directed to a host cell comprising any β-glucosidasepolynucleotide of the present invention that is described hereinabove.As used herein, a genetically modified or recombinant host cell includesthe progeny of said host cell that comprises a β-glucosidasepolynucleotide which encodes a recombinant polypeptide of the invention.Often, the genetically modified or recombinant host cell is amicroorganism. In some embodiments, the genetically modified orrecombinant host cell is a prokaryote. In some embodiments, thegenetically modified or recombinant host cell is a eukaryotic cell.Generally the eukaryotic host cell is a non-human cell. Suitableeukaryotic host cells include, but are not limited to, fungal cells,algal cells, insect cells, and plant cells. In some cases host cells maybe modified to increase protein expression, secretion or stability, orto confer other desired characteristics. Cells (e.g., fungi) that havebeen mutated or selected to have low protease activity are particularlyuseful for expression. For example, protease deficient strains of C.lucknowense (e.g., in which the alkaline protease locus has been deletedor disrupted) may be used. In some embodiments, the host cells, e.g.,fungi, may modified to express a recombinant cellulase.

Suitable fungal host cells include, but are not limited to, Ascomycota,Basidiomycota, Deuteromycota, Zygomycota, and Fungi imperfecti. In someembodiments the fungal host cells are yeast cells and filamentous fungalcells. The filamentous fungal host cells of the present inventioninclude all filamentous forms of the subdivision Eumycotina andOomycota. (see, for example, Hawksworth et al., In Ainsworth and Bisby'sDictionary of The Fungi, 8^(th) edition, 1995, CAB International,University Press, Cambridge, UK, which is incorporated herein byreference). Filamentous fungi are characterized by a vegetative myceliumwith a cell wall composed of chitin, cellulose and other complexpolysaccharides. The filamentous fungal host cells of the presentinvention are morphologically distinct from yeast.

In some embodiments the filamentous fungal host cell may be a cell of aspecies of, but not limited to Achlya, Acremonium, Aspergillus,Aureobasidium, Bjerkandera, Ceriporiopsis, Cephalosporium,Chrysosporium, Cochliobolus, Corynascus, Cryphonectria, Cryptococcus,Coprinus, Coriolus, Diplodia, Endothia, Fusarium, Gibberella,Gliocladium, Humicola, Hypocrea, Myceliophthora, Mucor, Neurospora,Penicillium, Podospora, Phlebia, Piromyces, Pyricularia, Rhizomucor,Rhizopus, Schizophyllum, Scytalidium, Sporotrichum, Talaromyces,Thermoascus, Thielavia, Trametes, Tolypocladium, Trichoderma,Verticillium, Volvariella, or teleomorphs, or anamorphs, and synonyms ortaxonomic equivalents thereof.

In some embodiments of the invention, the filamentous fungal host cellis of the Aspergillus species, Ceriporiopsis species, Chrysosporiumspecies, Corynascus species, Fusarium species, Humicola species,Neurospora species, Penicillium species, Tolypocladium species, Tramatesspecies, or Trichoderma species.

In some embodiments of the invention, the filamentous fungal host cellis of the Chrysosporium species, e.g., C. lucknowense, C.keratinophilum, C. tropicum, C. merdarium, C. inops, C. pannicola, andC. zonatum.

In some embodiments of the invention, the filamentous fungal host cellis of the Trichoderma species, e.g., T. longibrachiatum, T. viride(e.g., ATCC 32098 and 32086), or T. reesei, an anamorph of Hypocreajecorina, (NRRL 15709, ATTC 13631, 56764, 56765, 56466, 56767 and RL-P37and derivatives thereof—See Sheir-Neiss et al., 1984, Appl. Microbiol.Biotechnology, 20:46-53, which is incorporated herein by reference), T.koningii, and T. harzianum. In addition, the term “Trichoderma” refersto any fungal strain that was previously classified as Trichoderma orcurrently classified as Trichoderma.

In some embodiments of the invention, the filamentous fungal host cellis of the Aspergillus species, e.g., A. awamori, A. fumigatus, A.japonicus, A. nidulans, A. niger, A. aculeatus, A. foetidus, A. oryzae,A. sojae, and A. kawachi. (Reference is made to Kelly and Hynes, 1985,EMBO J. 4,475479; NRRL 3112, ATCC 11490, 22342, 44733, and 14331; Yeltonet al., 1984, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 81, 1470-1474; Tilburn et al.,1982, Gene 26, 205-221; and Johnston et al., 1985, EMBO J. 4, 1307-1311,all of which are incorporated herein by reference).

In some embodiments of the invention, the filamentous fungal host cellis of the Fusarium species, e.g., F. bactridioides, F. cerealis, F.crookwellense, F. culmorum, F. graminearum, F. graminum. F. oxysporum,F. roseum, and F. venenatum.

In some embodiments of the invention, the filamentous fungal host cellis of the Myceliophthora species, e.g., M. thermophilia.

In some embodiments of the invention, the filamentous fungal host cellis of the Neurospora species, e.g., N. crassa. Reference is made toCase, M. E. et al., 1979, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 76, 5259-5263;U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,553; and Kinsey, J. A. and J. A. Rambosek, 1984,Molecular and Cellular Biology 4, 117-122, all of which are incorporatedherein by reference. In some embodiments of the invention, thefilamentous fungal host cell is of the Humicola species, e.g., H.insolens, H. grisea, and H. lanuginosa. In some embodiments of theinvention, the filamentous fungal host cell is of the Mucor species,e.g., M. miehei and M. circinelloides. In some embodiments of theinvention, the filamentous fungal host cell is of the Rhizopus species,e.g., R. oryzae and R. niveus. In some embodiments of the invention, thefilamentous fungal host cell is of the Penicillium species, e.g., P.purpurogenum, P. chrysogenum, and P. verruculosum. In some embodimentsof the invention, the filamentous fungal host cell is of the Thielaviaspecies, e.g., T. terrestris. In some embodiments of the invention, thefilamentous fungal host cell is of the Tolypocladium species, e.g., T.inflatum and T. geodes. In some embodiments of the invention, thefilamentous fungal host cell is of the Trametes species, e.g., T.villosa and T. versicolor.

In the present invention a yeast host cell may be a cell of a speciesof, but not limited to Candida, Hansenula, Saccharomyces,Schizosaccharomyces, Pichia, Kluyveromyces, and Yarrowia. In someembodiments of the invention, the yeast cell is Hansenula polymorpha,Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces carlsbergensis, Saccharomycesdiastaticus, Saccharomyces norbensis, Saccharomyces kluyveri,Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Pichia pastoris, Pichia finlandica, Pichiatrehalophila, Pichia kodamae, Pichia membranaefaciens, Pichia opuntiae,Pichia thermotolerans, Pichia salictaria, Pichia quercuum, Pichiapijperi, Pichia stipitis, Pichia methanolica, Pichia angusta,Kluyveromyces lactis, Candida albicans, and Yarrowia lipolytica.

In some embodiments on the invention, the host cell is an algae such as,Chlamydomonas (e.g., C. reinhardtii) and Phormidium (P. sp. ATCC29409).

In other embodiments, the host cell is a prokaryotic cell. Suitableprokaryotic cells include gram positive, gram negative and gram-variablebacterial cells. The host cell may be a species of, but not limited toAgrobacterium, Alicyclobacillus, Anabaena, Anacystis, Acinetobacter,Acidothermus, Arthrobacter, Azobacter, Bacillus, Bifidobacterium,Brevibacterium, Butyrivibrio, Buchnera, Campestris, Camplyobacter,Clostridium, Corynebacterium, Chromatium, Coprococcus, Escherichia,Enterococcus, Enterobacter, Erwinia, Fusobacterium, Faecalibacterium,Francisella, Flavobacterium, Geobacillus, Haemophilus, Helicobacter,Klebsiella, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Ilyobacter, Micrococcus,Microbacterium, Mesorhizobium, Methylobacterium, Mycobacterium,Neisseria, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Prochlorococcus, Rhodobacter,Rhodopseudomonas, Roseburia, Rhodospirillum, Rhodococcus, Scenedesmus,Streptomyces, Streptococcus, Synecoccus, Saccharomonospora,Staphylococcus, Serratia, Salmonella, Shigella, Thermoanaerobacterium,Tropheryma, Francisella, Temecula, Thermosynechococcus, Thermococcus,Ureaplasma, Xanthomonas, Xylella, Yersinia and Zymomonas.

In some embodiments, the host cell is a species of Agrobacterium,Acinetobacter, Azobacter, Bacillus, Bifidobacterium, Buchnera,Geobacillus, Campylobacter, Clostridium, Corynebacterium, Escherichia,Enterococcus, Erwinia, Flavobacterium, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus,Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Salmonella, Streptococcus,Streptomyces, and Zymomonas.

In yet other embodiments, the bacterial host strain is non-pathogenic tohumans. In some embodiments the bacterial host strain is an industrialstrain. Numerous bacterial industrial strains are known and suitable inthe present invention.

In some embodiments of the invention the bacterial host cell is of theAgrobacterium species, e.g., A. radiobacter, A. rhizogenes, and A. rubi.In some embodiments of the invention, the bacterial host cell is of theArthrobacter species, e.g., A. aurescens, A. citreus, A. globformis, A.hydrocarboglutamicus, A. mysorens, A. nicotianae, A. paraffineus, A.protophonniae, A. roseoparqffinus, A. sulfureus, and A. ureafaciens. Insome embodiments of the invention the bacterial host cell is of theBacillus species, e.g., B. thuringiensis, B. anthracis, B. megaterium,B. subtilis, B. lentus, B. circulans, B. pumilus, B. lautus, B.coagulans, B. brevis, B. firmus, B. alkaophius, B. licheniformis, B.clausii, B. stearothermophilus, B. halodurans and B. amyloliquefaciens.In particular embodiments, the host cell will be an industrial Bacillusstrain including but not limited to B. subtilis, B. pumilus, B.licheniformis, B. megaterium, B. clausii, B. stearothermophilus and B.amyloliquefaciens. Some embodiments of a Bacillus host cell include B.subtilis, B. licheniformis, B. megaterium, B. stearothermophilus and B.amyloliquefaciens. In some embodiments the bacterial host cell is of theClostridium species, e.g., C. acetobutylicum, C. tetani E88, C.lituseburense, C. saccharobutylicum, C. perfringens, C. thermocellum,and C. beijerinckii. In some embodiments the bacterial host cell is ofthe Corynebacterium species e.g., C. glutamicum and C. acetoacidophilum.In some embodiments the bacterial host cell is of the Escherichiaspecies, e.g., E. coli. In some embodiments the bacterial host cell isof the Erwinia species, e.g., E. uredovora, E. carotovora, E. ananas, E.herbicola, E. punctata, and E. terreus. In some embodiments thebacterial host cell is of the Pantoea species, e.g., P. citrea, and P.agglomerans. In some embodiments the bacterial host cell is of thePseudomonas species, e.g., P. putida, P. fluorescens, P. aeruginosa, P.mevalonii, and P. sp. D-0I 10. In some embodiments the bacterial hostcell is of the Streptococcus species, e.g., S. equisimiles, S. pyogenes,and S. uberis. In some embodiments the bacterial host cell is of theStreptomyces species, e.g., S. ambofaciens, S. achromogenes, S.avermitilis, S. coelicolor, S. aureofaciens, S. aureus, S. fungicidicus,S. griseus, and S. lividans. In some embodiments the bacterial host cellis of the Zymomonas species, e.g., Z. mobilis, and Z. lipolytica.

Strains that may be used in the practice of the invention including bothprokaryotic and eukaryotic strains, are readily accessible to the publicfrom a number of culture collections such as American Type CultureCollection (ATCC), Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen andZellkulturen GmbH (DSM), Centraalbureau Voor Schimmelcultures (CBS), andAgricultural Research Service Patent Culture Collection, NorthernRegional Research Center (NRRL).

Host cells may be genetically modified to have characteristics thatimprove protein secretion, protein stability or other propertiesdesirable for expression and/or secretion of a protein. For example,knock out of Alp1 function results in a cell that is protease deficient.Knock out of pyr5 function results in a cell with a pyrimidine deficientphenotype. In particular embodiments host cells are modified to deleteendogenous cellulase protein-encoding sequences or otherwise eliminateexpression of one or more endogenous cellulases. In one embodimentexpression of one or more endogenous cellulases is inhibited to increaseproduction of cellulases of interest. Genetic modification can beachieved by genetic engineering techniques or using classicalmicrobiological techniques, such as chemical or UV mutagenesis andsubsequent selection. A combination of recombinant modification andclassical selection techniques may be used to produce the organism ofinterest. Using recombinant technology, nucleic acid molecules can beintroduced, deleted, inhibited or modified, in a manner that results inincreased yields of β-glucosidase within the organism or in the culture.For example, knock out of Alp1 function results in a cell that isprotease deficient. Knock out of pyr5 function results in a cell with apyrimidine deficient phenotype. In one genetic engineering approach,homologous recombination can be used to induce targeted genemodifications by specifically targeting a gene in vivo to suppressexpression of the encoded protein. In an alternative approach, siRNA,antisense, or ribozyme technology can be used to inhibit gene expression

Transformation and Culture

Introduction of a vector or DNA construct into a host cell can beeffected by calcium phosphate transfection, DEAE-Dextran mediatedtransfection, electroporation, or other common techniques (See Davis etal., 1986, Basic Methods in Molecular Biology, which is incorporatedherein by reference).

The engineered host cells can be cultured in conventional nutrient mediamodified as appropriate for activating promoters, selectingtransformants, or amplifying the β-glucosidase polynucleotide. Cultureconditions, such as temperature, pH and the like, are those previouslyused with the host cell selected for expression, and will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. As noted, many references are available forthe culture and production of many cells, including cells of bacterial,plant, animal (especially mammalian) and archebacterial origin. Seee.g., Sambrook, Ausubel, and Berger (all supra), as well as Freshney(1994) Culture of Animal Cells, a Manual of Basic Technique, thirdedition, Wiley-Liss, New York and the references cited therein; Doyleand Griffiths (1997) Mammalian Cell Culture: Essential Techniques JohnWiley and Sons, NY; Humason (1979) Animal Tissue Techniques, fourthedition W.H. Freeman and Company; and Ricciardelli, et al., (1989) InVitro Cell Dev. Biol. 25:1016-1024, all of which are incorporated hereinby reference. For plant cell culture and regeneration, Payne et al.(1992) Plant Cell and Tissue Culture in Liquid Systems John Wiley &Sons, Inc. New York, N.Y.; Gamborg and Phillips (eds) (1995) Plant Cell,Tissue and Organ Culture; Fundamental Methods Springer Lab Manual,Springer-Verlag (Berlin Heidelberg New York); Jones, ed. (1984) PlantGene Transfer and Expression Protocols, Humana Press, Totowa, N.J. andPlant Molecular Biology (1993) R. R. D. Croy, Ed. Bios ScientificPublishers, Oxford, U.K. ISBN 0 12 198370 6, all of which areincorporated herein by reference. Cell culture media in general are setforth in Atlas and Parks (eds.) The Handbook of Microbiological Media(1993) CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla., which is incorporated herein byreference. Additional information for cell culture is found in availablecommercial literature such as the Life Science Research Cell CultureCatalogue (1998) from Sigma-Aldrich, Inc (St Louis, Mo.)(“Sigma-LSRCCC”) and, for example, The Plant Culture Catalogue andsupplement (1997) also from Sigma-Aldrich, Inc (St Louis, Mo.)(“Sigma-PCCS”), all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, cells expressing the β-glucosidase polypeptides ofthe invention are grown under batch or continuous fermentationsconditions. Classical batch fermentation is a closed system, wherein thecompositions of the medium is set at the beginning of the fermentationand is not subject to artificial alternations during the fermentation. Avariation of the batch system is a fed-batch fermentation which alsofinds use in the present invention. In this variation, the substrate isadded in increments as the fermentation progresses. Fed-batch systemsare useful when catabolite repression is likely to inhibit themetabolism of the cells and where it is desirable to have limitedamounts of substrate in the medium. Batch and fed-batch fermentationsare common and well known in the art. Continuous fermentation is an opensystem where a defined fermentation medium is added continuously to abioreactor and an equal amount of conditioned medium is removedsimultaneously for processing. Continuous fermentation generallymaintains the cultures at a constant high density where cells areprimarily in log phase growth. Continuous fermentation systems strive tomaintain steady state growth conditions. Methods for modulatingnutrients and growth factors for continuous fermentation processes aswell as techniques for maximizing the rate of product formation are wellknown in the art of industrial microbiology.

Cell-free transcription/translation systems can also be employed toproduce β-glucosidase polypeptides using the polynucleotides of thepresent invention. Several such systems are commercially available. Ageneral guide to in vitro transcription and translation protocols isfound in Tymms (1995) In vitro Transcription and Translation Protocols:Methods in Molecular Biology, Volume 37, Garland Publishing, NY, whichis incorporated herein by reference.

V. Production and Recovery of β-Glucosidase Polypeptides

The present invention is also directed to a method of making apolypeptide having β-glucosidase activity, the method comprisingproviding a host cell transformed with any one of the describedβ-glucosidase polynucleotides of the present invention; culturing thetransformed host cell in a culture medium under conditions in which thehost cell expresses the encoded β-glucosidase polypeptide; andoptionally recovering or isolating the expressed β-glucosidasepolypeptide, or recovering or isolating the culture medium containingthe expressed β-glucosidase polypeptide. The method further providesoptionally lysing the transformed host cells after expressing theencoded β-glucosidase polypeptide and optionally recovering or isolatingthe expressed β-glucosidase polypeptide from the cell lysate. Thepresent invention further provides a method of making a β-glucosidasepolypeptide, said method comprising cultivating a host cell transformedwith a β-glucosidase polynucleotide under conditions suitable for theproduction of the β-glucosidase polypeptide and recovering theβ-glucosidase polypeptide.

Typically, recovery or isolation of the β-glucosidase polypeptide isfrom the host cell culture medium, the host cell or both, using proteinrecovery techniques that are well known in the art, including thosedescribed herein. Cells are typically harvested by centrifugation,disrupted by physical or chemical means, and the resulting crude extractmay be retained for further purification. Microbial cells employed inexpression of proteins can be disrupted by any convenient method,including freeze-thaw cycling, sonication, mechanical disruption, or useof cell lysing agents, or other methods, which are well known to thoseskilled in the art.

The resulting polypeptide may be recovered/isolated and optionallypurified by any of a number of methods known in the art. For example,the polypeptide may be isolated from the nutrient medium by conventionalprocedures including, but not limited to, centrifugation, filtration,extraction, spray-drying, evaporation, chromatography (e.g., ionexchange, affinity, hydrophobic interaction, chromatofocusing, and sizeexclusion), or precipitation. Protein refolding steps can be used, asdesired, in completing the configuration of the mature protein. Finally,high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) can be employed in thefinal purification steps. Purification of BGL1 is described in Parry etal., 2001, Biochem. J. 353:117, and Hong et al., 2007, Appl. Microbiol.Biotechnol. 73:1331, both incorporated herein by reference. In additionto the references noted supra, a variety of purification methods arewell known in the art, including, for example, those set forth inSandana (1997) Bioseparation of Proteins, Academic Press, Inc.; Bollaget al. (1996) Protein Methods, 2^(nd) Edition, Wiley-Liss, NY; Walker(1996) The Protein Protocols Handbook Humana Press, NJ; Harris and Angal(1990) Protein Purification Applications: A Practical Approach, IRLPress at Oxford, Oxford, England; Harris and Angal Protein PurificationMethods: A Practical Approach, IRL Press at Oxford, Oxford, England;Scopes (1993) Protein Purification: Principles and Practice 3^(rd)Edition, Springer Verlag, NY; Janson and Ryden (1998) ProteinPurification: Principles, High Resolution Methods and Applications,Second Edition, Wiley-VCH, NY; and Walker (1998) Protein Protocols onCD-ROM, Humana Press, NJ, all of which are incorporated herein byreference.

Immunological methods may be used to purify β-glucosidase polypeptides.In one approach, antibody raised against the β-glucosidase polypeptides(e.g., against a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO:2 or an immunogenicfragment thereof) using conventional methods is immobilized on beads,mixed with cell culture media under conditions in which theβ-glucosidase is bound, and precipitated. In a related approachimmunochromatography is used.

As noted, in some embodiments the β-glucosidase is expressed as a fusionprotein including a non-enzyme portion. In some embodiments theβ-glucosidase sequence is fused to a purification facilitating domain.As used herein, the term “purification facilitating domain” refers to adomain that mediates purification of the polypeptide to which it isfused. Suitable purification domains include metal chelating peptides,histidine-tryptophan modules that allow purification on immobilizedmetals, a sequence which binds glutathione (e.g., GST), a hemagglutinin(HA) tag (corresponding to an epitope derived from the influenzahemagglutinin protein; Wilson et al., 1984, Cell 37:767), maltosebinding protein sequences, the FLAG epitope utilized in the FLAGSextension/affinity purification system (Immunex Corp, Seattle, Wash.),and the like. The inclusion of a protease-cleavable polypeptide linkersequence between the purification domain and the HHDH polypeptide isuseful to facilitate purification. One expression vector contemplatedfor use in the compositions and methods described herein provides forexpression of a fusion protein comprising a polypeptide of the inventionfused to a polyhistidine region separated by an enterokinase cleavagesite. The histidine residues facilitate purification on IMIAC(immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography, as described in Porathet al., 1992, Protein Expression and Purification 3:263-281) while theenterokinase cleavage site provides a means for separating the HHDHpolypeptide from the fusion protein. pGEX vectors (Promega; Madison,Wis.) may also be used to express foreign polypeptides as fusionproteins with glutathione S-transferase (GST). In general, such fusionproteins are soluble and can easily be purified from lysed cells byadsorption to ligand-agarose beads (e.g., glutathione-agarose in thecase of GST-fusions) followed by elution in the presence of free ligand.

VI. Methods of Using β-Glucosidase Polypeptides and Cells Expressingβ-Glucosidase Polypeptides

As described supra, β-glucosidase polypeptides of the present inventioncan be used to catalyze the hydrolysis of a sugar dimer with the releaseof the corresponding sugar monomer, for example, the conversion ofcellobiose with the release of glucose. Thus, the present inventionprovides a method for producing glucose, by (a) providing a cellobiose;and (b) contacting the cellobiose with a β-glucosidase polypeptide ofthe invention under conditions sufficient to form a reaction mixture forconverting the cellobiose to glucose. The β-glucosidase polypeptide maybe utilized in such methods in either isolated form or as part of acomposition, such as any of those described herein. The β-glucosidasepolypeptide may also be provided in cell culturing media or in a celllysate. For example, after producing the β-glucosidase polypeptide byculturing a host cell transformed with a β-glucosidase polynucleotide orvector of the present invention, the β-glucosidase need not be isolatedfrom the culture medium (i.e., if the β-glucosidase is secreted into theculture medium) or cell lysate (i.e., if the β-glucosidase is notsecreted into the culture medium) or used in purified form to be usefulin further methods of using the β-glucosidase polypeptide. Anycomposition, cell culture medium, or cell lysate containing aβ-glucosidase polypeptide of the present invention may be suitable forusing in methods that utilize a β-glucosidase. Therefore, the presentinvention further provides a method for producing glucose, by: (a)providing a cellobiose; and (b) contacting the cellobiose with a culturemedium or cell lysate or composition comprising a β-glucosidasepolypeptide of the present invention under conditions sufficient to forma reaction mixture for converting the cellobiose to glucose.

The present invention further provides compositions that are useful forthe enzymatic conversion of cellobiose to glucose. For example, one ormore β-glucosidase polypeptides of the present invention may be combinedwith another enzyme and/or an agent that alters the bulk materialhandling properties or further processability of the β-glucosidase(s)(e.g., a flow-aid agent, water, buffer, a surfactant, and the like) orthat improves the efficiency of the conversion of cellobiose to glucose,as described in more detail hereinbelow. The other enzyme may be adifferent β-glucosidase or another cellulase enzyme.

Enzyme Mixtures

In another aspect, the invention provides an enzyme mixture thatcomprises a C1 Bgl1 variant polypeptide as described herein. The enzymemixture may be cell-free, or in alternative embodiments, may not beseparated from host cells that secrete an enzyme mixture component. Acell-free enzyme mixture typically comprises enzymes that have beenseparated from any cells. Cell-free enzyme mixtures can be prepared byany of a variety of methodologies that are known in the art, such asfiltration or centrifugation methodologies. In certain embodiments, theenzyme mixture can be, for example, partially cell-free, substantiallycell-free, or entirely cell-free.

The C1 Bgl1 variant and any additional enzymes present in the enzymemixture may be secreted from a single genetically modified fungal cellor by different microbes in combined or separate fermentations.Similarly, the C1 Bgl1 variant and any additional enzymes present in theenzyme mixture may be expressed individually or in sub-groups fromdifferent strains of different organisms and the enzymes combined invitro to make the enzyme mixture. It is also contemplated that the C1Bgl1 variant and any additional enzymes in the enzyme mixture may beexpressed individually or in sub-groups from different strains of asingle organism, and the enzymes combined to make the enzyme mixture. Insome embodiments, all of the enzymes are expressed from a single hostorganism, such the genetically modified fungal cell.

In some embodiments, the enzyme mixture comprises other types ofcellulases, selected from CBH, EG, and BG cellulase. In someembodiments, the cellobiohydrolase is T. reesei cellobiohydrolase II. Insome embodiments, the endoglucanase comprises a catalytic domain derivedfrom the catalytic domain of a Streptomyces avermitilis endoglucanase.See, copending application Ser. No. 12/751,985, incorporated herein byreference. In some embodiments, the at least one cellulase isAcidothermus cellulolyticus, Thermobifida fusca, Humicola grisea or aChrysosporium sp. Cellulase enzymes of the cellulase mixture worktogether resulting in decrystallization and hydrolysis of the cellulosefrom a biomass substrate to yield soluble sugars, such as but notlimited to glucose (See Brigham et al., 1995, in Handbook on Bioethanol(C. Wyman ed.) pp 119-141, Taylor and Francis, Washington D.C., which isincorporated herein by reference).

Cellulase mixtures for efficient enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose areknown (see, e.g., Viikari et al., 2007, “Thermostable enzymes inlignocellulose hydrolysis” Adv Biochem Eng Biotechnol 108:121-45, and USPat. publications US 2009/0061484; US 2008/0057541; and US 2009/0209009to logen Energy Corp.), each of which is incorporated herein byreference for all purposes. In some embodiments, mixtures of purifiednaturally occurring or recombinant enzymes are combined with cellulosicfeedstock or a product of cellulose hydrolysis. Alternatively or inaddition, one or more cell populations, each producing one or morenaturally occurring or recombinant cellulases, may be combined withcellulosic feedstock or a product of cellulose hydrolysis.

A variant β-glucosidase polypeptide of the invention may also be presentin mixtures with enzymes other than cellulases that degrade cellulose,hemicellulose, pectin, and/or lignocellulose.

A “hemicellulase” as used herein, refers to a polypeptide that cancatalyze hydrolysis of hemicellulose into small polysaccharides such asoligosaccharides, or monomeric saccharides. Hemicellulloses includexylan, glucuonoxylan, arabinoxylan, glucomannan and xyloglucan.Hemicellulases include, for example, the following: endoxylanases,β-xylosidases, α-L-arabinofuranosidases, α-D-glucuronidases, feruloylesterases, coumarolyl esterases, α-galactosidases, β-galactosidases,β-mannanases, and β-mannosidases. An enzyme mixture may thereforecomprise a β-glucosidase variant of the invention and one or morehemicellulases.

An endoxylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) catalyzes the endohydrolysis of1,4-β-D-xylosidic linkages in xylans. This enzyme may also be referredto as endo-1,4-β-xylanase or 1,4-β-D-xylan xylanohydrolase. Analternative is EC 3.2.1.136, a glucuronoarabinoxylan endoxylanase, anenzyme that is able to hydrolyse 1,4 xylosidic linkages inglucuronoarabinoxylans.

A β-xylosidase (EC 3.2.1.37) catalyzes the hydrolysis of 1,4-β-D-xylans,to remove successive D-xylose residues from the non-reducing termini.This enzyme may also be referred to as xylan 1,4-β-xylosidase,1,4-β-D-xylan xylohydrolase, exo-1,4-β-xylosidase or xylobiase.

An α-L-arabinofuranosidase (EC 3.2.1.55) catalyzes the hydrolysis ofterminal non-reducing alpha-L-arabinofuranoside residues inalpha-L-arabinosides. The enzyme acts on alpha-L-arabinofuranosides,alpha-L-arabinans containing (1,3)- and/or (1,5)-linkages,arabinoxylans, and arabinogalactans. Alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase is alsoknown as arabinosidase, alpha-arabinosidase, alpha-L-arabinosidase,alpha-arabinofuranosidase, arabinofuranosidase, polysaccharidealpha-L-arabinofuranosidase, alpha-L-arabinofuranoside hydrolase,L-arabinosidase and alpha-L-arabinanase.

An alpha-glucuronidase (EC 3.2.1.139) catalyzes the hydrolysis of analpha-D-glucuronoside to D-glucuronate and an alcohol.

An acetylxylanesterase (EC 3.1.1.72) catalyzes the hydrolysis of acetylgroups from polymeric xylan, acetylated xylose, acetylated glucose,alpha-napthyl acetate, and p-nitrophenyl acetate.

A feruloyl esterase (EC 3.1.1.73) has 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamoyl-sugarhydrolase activity (EC 3.1.1.73) that catalyzes the hydrolysis of the4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamoyl (feruloyl) group from an esterified sugar,which is usually arabinose in “natural” substrates, to produce ferulate(4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamate). Feruloyl esterase is also known asferulic acid esterase, hydroxycinnamoyl esterase, FAE-III, cinnamoylester hydrolase, FAEA, cinnAE, FAE-I, or FAE-II.

A coumaroyl esterase (EC 3.1.1.73) catalyzes a reaction of the form:coumaroyl-saccharide+H(2)O=coumarate+saccharide. The saccharide may be,for example, an oligosaccharide or a polysaccharide. This enzyme mayalso be referred to as trans-4-coumaroyl esterase, trans-p-coumaroylesterase, p-coumaroyl esterase or p-coumaric acid esterase. The enzymealso falls within EC 3.1.1.73 so may also be referred to as a feruloylesterase.

An α-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.22) catalyzes the hydrolysis of terminal,non-reducing α-D-galactose residues in α-D-galactosides, includinggalactose oligosaccharides, galactomannans, galactans andarabinogalactans. This enzyme may also be referred to as melibiase.

A β-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) catalyzes the hydrolysis of terminalnon-reducing β-D-galactose residues in β-D-galactosides. Such apolypeptide may also be capable of hydrolyzing α-L-arabinosides. Thisenzyme may also be referred to as exo-(1->4)β-D-galactanase or lactase.

A β-mannanase (EC 3.2.1.78) catalyzes the random hydrolysis of1,4-β-D-mannosidic linkages in mannans, galactomannans and glucomannans.This enzyme may also be referred to as mannan endo-1,4-β-mannosidase orendo-1,4-mannanase.

A β-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.25) catalyzes the hydrolysis of terminal,non-reducing β-D-mannose residues in β-D-mannosides. This enzyme mayalso be referred to as mannanase or mannase.

One or more enzymes that derade pectin may also be included in an enzymemixture that comprises a β-glucosidase variant of the invention. Apectinase catalyzes the hydrolysis of pectin into smaller units such asoligosaccharide or monomeric saccharides. An enzyme mixture may compriseany pectinase, for example an endo-polygalacturonase, a pectin methylesterase, an endo-galactanase, a pectin acetyl esterase, an endo-pectinlyase, pectate lyase, alpha rhamnosidase, an exo-galacturonase, anexo-polygalacturonate lyase, a rhamnogalacturonan hydrolase, arhamnogalacturonan lyase, a rhamnogalacturonan acetyl esterase, arhamnogalacturonan galacturonohydrolase or a xylogalacturonase.

An endo-polygalacturonase (EC 3.2.1.15) catalyzes the random hydrolysisof 1,4-α-D-galactosiduronic linkages in pectate and other galacturonans.This enzyme may also be referred to as polygalacturonase pectindepolymerase, pectinase, endopolygalacturonase, pectolase, pectinhydrolase, pectin polygalacturonase, poly-α-1,4-galacturonideglycanohydrolase, endogalacturonase; endo-D-galacturonase orpoly(1,4-α-D-galacturonide) glycanohydrolase.

A pectin methyl esterase (EC 3.1.1.11) catalyzes the reaction: pectin+nH2O=n methanol+pectate. The enzyme may also been known aspectinesterase, pectin demethoxylase, pectin methoxylase, pectinmethylesterase, pectase, pectinoesterase or pectin pectylhydrolase.

A endo-galactanase (EC 3.2.1.89) catalyzes the endohydrolysis of1,4-β-D-galactosidic linkages in arabinogalactans. The enzyme may alsobe known as arabinogalactan endo-1,4-β-galactosidase,endo-1,4-β-galactanase, galactanase, arabinogalactanase orarabinogalactan 4-β-D-galactanohydrolase.

A pectin acetyl esterase catalyzes the deacetylation of the acetylgroups at the hydroxyl groups of GalUA residues of pectin.

An endo-pectin lyase (EC 4.2.2.10) catalyzes the eliminative cleavage of(1→4)-α-D-galacturonan methyl ester to give oligosaccharides with4-deoxy-6-O-methyl-α-D-galact-4-enuronosyl groups at their non-reducingends. The enzyme may also be known as pectin lyase, pectintrans-eliminase; endo-pectin lyase, polymethylgalacturonictranseliminase, pectin methyltranseliminase, pectolyase, PL, PNL or PMGLor (1→4)-6-O-methyl-α-D-galacturonan lyase.

A pectate lyase (EC 4.2.2.2) catalyzes the eliminative cleavage of(1→4)-α-D-galacturonan to give oligosaccharides with4-deoxy-α-D-galact-4-enuronosyl groups at their non-reducing ends. Theenzyme may also be known polygalacturonic transeliminase, pectic acidtranseliminase, polygalacturonate lyase, endopectinmethyltranseliminase, pectate transeliminase, endogalacturonatetranseliminase, pectic acid lyase, pectic lyase,α-1,4-D-endopolygalacturonic acid lyase, PGA lyase, PPase-N,endo-α-1,4-polygalacturonic acid lyase, polygalacturonic acid lyase,pectin trans-eliminase, polygalacturonic acid trans-eliminase or(1→4)-α-D-galacturonan lyase.

An alpha rhamnosidase (EC 3.2.1.40) catalyzes the hydrolysis of terminalnon-reducing α-L-rhamnose residues in α-L-rhamnosides or alternativelyin rhamnogalacturonan. This enzyme may also be known as α-L-rhamnosidaseT, α-L-rhamnosidase N or α-L-rhamnoside rhamnohydrolase.

An exo-galacturonase (EC 3.2.1.82) hydrolyzes pectic acid from thenon-reducing end, releasing digalacturonate. The enzyme may also beknown as exo-poly-α-galacturonosidase, exopolygalacturonosidase orexopolygalacturanosidase.

An exo-galacturonase (EC 3.2.1.67) catalyzes a reaction of the followingtype:(1,4-α-D-galacturonide)n+H2O=(1,4-α-D-galacturonide)n-i+D-galacturonate.The enzyme may also be known as galacturan 1,4-α-galacturonidase,exopolygalacturonase, poly(galacturonate) hydrolase,exo-D-galacturonase, exo-D-galacturonanase, exopoly-D-galacturonase orpoly(1,4-α-D-galacturonide) galacturonohydrolase.

An exopolygalacturonate lyase (EC 4.2.2.9) catalyzes eliminativecleavage of 4-(4-deoxy-α-D-galact-4-enuronosyl)-D-galacturonate from thereducing end of pectate, i.e. de-esterified pectin. This enzyme may beknown as pectate disaccharide-lyase, pectate exo-lyase, exopectic acidtranseliminase, exopectate lyase, exopolygalacturonicacid-trans-eliminase, PATE, exo-PATE, exo-PGL or (1→4)-α-D-galacturonanreducing-end-disaccharide-lyase.

A rhamnogalacturonan hydrolyzes the linkage between galactosyluronicacid acid and rhamnopyranosyl in an endo-fashion in strictly alternatingrhamnogalacturonan structures, consisting of the disaccharide[(1,2-alpha-L-rhamnoyl-(1,4)-alpha-galactosyluronic acid].

A rhamnogalacturonan lyase cleaves α-L-Rhap-(1→4)-α-D-GalpA linkages inan endo-fashion in rhamnogalacturonan by beta-elimination.

A rhamnogalacturonan acetyl esterase catalyzes the deacetylation of thebackbone of alternating rhamnose and galacturonic acid residues inrhamnogalacturonan.

A rhamnogalacturonan galacturonohydrolase hydrolyzes galacturonic acidfrom the non-reducing end of strictly alternating rhamnogalacturonanstructures in an exo-fashion. This enzyme may also be known asxylogalacturonan hydrolase.

An endo-arabinanase (EC 3.2.1.99) catalyzes endohydrolysis of1,5-α-arabinofuranosidic linkages in 1,5-arabinans. The enzyme may alsobe know as endo-arabinase, arabinan endo-1,5-α-L-arabinosidase,endo-1,5-α-L-arabinanase, endo-α-1,5-arabanase; endo-arabanase or1,5-α-L-arabinan 1,5-α-L-arabinanohydrolase.

One or more enzymes that participate in lignin degradation may also beincluded in an enzyme mixture that comprises a β-glucosidase variant ofthe invention. Enzymatic lignin depolymerization can be accomplished bylignin peroxidases, manganese peroxidases, laccases and cellobiosedehydrogenases (CDH), often working in synergy. These extracellularenzymes are often referred to as lignin-modifying enzymes or LMEs. Threeof these enzymes comprise two glycosylated heme-containing peroxidases:lignin peroxidase (LIP); Mn-dependent peroxidase (MNP); and, acopper-containing phenoloxidase laccase (LCC).

Laccase. Laccases are copper containing oxidase enzymes that are foundin many plants, fungi and microorganisms. Laccases are enzymaticallyactive on phenols and similar molecules and perform a one electronoxidation. Laccases can be polymeric and the enzymatically active formcan be a dimer or trimer.

Mn-dependent peroxidase. The enzymatic activity of Mn-dependentperoxidase (MnP) in is dependent on Mn2+. Without being bound by theory,it has been suggested that the main role of this enzyme is to oxidizeMn2+ to Mn3+ (Glenn et al. (1986) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 251:688-696).Subsequently, phenolic substrates are oxidized by the Mn3+ generated.

Lignin peroxidase. Lignin peroxidase is an extracellular heme thatcatalyses the oxidative depolymerization of dilute solutions ofpolymeric lignin in vitro. Some of the substrates of LiP, most notably3,4-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol (veratryl alcohol, VA), are active redoxcompounds that have been shown to act as redox mediators. VA is asecondary metabolite produced at the same time as LiP by ligninolyticcultures of P. chrysosporium and without being bound by theory, has beenproposed to function as a physiological redox mediator in theLiP-catalysed oxidation of lignin in vivo (Harvey, et al. (1986) FEBSLett. 195, 242-246).

An enzymatic mixture comprising a β-glucosidase variant of the inventionmay further comprise at least one of the following; a protease or alipase that participates in cellulose degradation.

“Protease” includes enzymes that hydrolyze peptide bonds (peptidases),as well as enzymes that hydrolyze bonds between peptides and othermoieties, such as sugars (glycopeptidases). Many proteases arecharacterized under EC 3.4, and are suitable for use in the invention.Some specific types of proteases include, cysteine proteases includingpepsin, papain and serine proteases including chymotrypsins,carboxypeptidases and metalloendopeptidases.

“Lipase” includes enzymes that hydrolyze lipids, fatty acids, andacylglycerides, including phosphoglycerides, lipoproteins,diacylglycerols, and the like. In plants, lipids are used as structuralcomponents to limit water loss and pathogen infection. These lipidsinclude waxes derived from fatty acids, as well as cutin and suberin.

An enzyme mixture that comprises a β-glucosidase variant of theinvention may also comprise at least one expansin or expansin-likeprotein, such as a swollenin (see Salheimo et al., Eur. J. Biohem. 269,4202-4211, 2002) or a swollenin-like protein.

Expansins are implicated in loosening of the cell wall structure duringplant cell growth. Expansins have been proposed to disrupt hydrogenbonding between cellulose and other cell wall polysaccharides withouthaving hydrolytic activity. In this way, they are thought to allow thesliding of cellulose fibers and enlargement of the cell wall. Swollenin,an expansin-like protein contains an N-terminal Carbohydrate BindingModule Family 1 domain (CBD) and a C-terminal expansin-like domain. Forthe purposes of this invention, an expansin-like protein orswollenin-like protein may comprise one or both of such domains and/ormay disrupt the structure of cell walls (such as disrupting cellulosestructure), optionally without producing detectable amounts of reducingsugars.

An enzyme mixture that comprises a β-glucosidase variant of theinvention may also comprise at least one of the following: a polypeptideproduct of a cellulose integrating protein, scaffoldin or ascaffoldin-like protein, for example CipA or CipC from Clostridiumthermocellum or Clostridium cellulolyticum respectively. Scaffoldins andcellulose integrating proteins are multi-functional integrating subunitswhich may organize cellulolytic subunits into a multi-enzyme complex.This is accomplished by the interaction of two complementary classes ofdomain, i.e. a cohesion domain on scaffoldin and a dockerin domain oneach enzymatic unit. The scaffoldin subunit also bears acellulose-binding module that mediates attachment of the cellulosome toits substrate. A scaffoldin or cellulose integrating protein for thepurposes of this invention may comprise one or both of such domains.

An enzyme mixture that comprises a β-glucosidase variant of theinvention may also comprise at least one cellulose induced protein ormodulating protein, for example as encoded by cip1 or cip2 gene orsimilar genes from Trichoderma reesei (see Foreman et al., J. Biol.Chem. 278(34), 31988-31997, 2003).

An enzyme mixture that comprises a β-glucosidase variant of theinvention may comprise a member of each of the classes of thepolypeptides described above, several members of one polypeptide class,or any combination of these polypeptide classes.

Other Components of β-Glucosidase Compositions

β-glucosidase polypeptides of the present invention may be used incombination with other optional ingredients such as a buffer, asurfactant, and/or a scouring agent. A buffer may be used with aβ-glucosidase polypeptide of the present invention (optionally combinedwith other cellulases, including another β-glucosidase) to maintain adesired pH within the solution in which the β-glucosidase is employed.The exact concentration of buffer employed will depend on severalfactors which the skilled artisan can determine. Suitable buffers arewell known in the art. A surfactant may further be used in combinationwith the cellulases of the present invention. Suitable surfactantsinclude any surfactant compatible with the β-glucosidase and,optionally, with any other cellulases being used. Exemplary surfactantsinclude an anionic, a non-ionic, and ampholytic surfactants.

Suitable anionic surfactants include, but are not limited to, linear orbranched alkylbenzenesulfonates; alkyl or alkenyl ether sulfates havinglinear or branched alkyl groups or alkenyl groups; alkyl or alkenylsulfates; olefinsulfonates; alkanesulfonates, and the like. Suitablecounter ions for anionic surfactants include, for example, alkali metalions, such as sodium and potassium; alkaline earth metal ions, such ascalcium and magnesium; ammonium ion; and alkanolamines having from 1 to3 alkanol groups of carbon number 2 or 3. Ampholytic surfactantssuitable for use in the practice of the present invention include, forexample, quaternary ammonium salt sulfonates, betaine-type ampholyticsurfactants, and the like. Suitable nonionic surfactants generallyinclude polyoxalkylene ethers, as well as higher fatty acidalkanolamides or alkylene oxide adduct thereof, fatty acid glycerinemonoesters, and the like. Mixtures of surfactants can also be employedas is known in the art.

Production of Soluble Sugars From Cellulosic Biomass

β-glucosidase polypeptides of the present invention, as well as anycomposition, culture medium, or cell lysate comprising suchβ-glucosidase polypeptides, may be used in the production ofmonosaccharides, disaccharides, or oligomers of a mono- or di-saccharideas chemical or fermentation feedstock from biomass. As used herein, theterm “biomass” refers to living or dead biological material thatcontains a polysaccharide substrate, such as, for example, cellulose,starch, and the like. Therefore, the present invention provides a methodof converting a biomass substrate to a fermentable sugar, the methodcomprising contacting a culture medium or cell lysate containing aβ-glucosidase polypeptide according to the invention, with the biomasssubstrate under conditions suitable for the production of thefermentable sugar. The present invention further provides a method ofconverting a biomass substrate to a soluble (or “fermentable”) sugar by(a) pretreating a cellulose substrate to increase its susceptibility tohydrolysis; (b) contacting the pretreated cellulose substrate of step(a) with a composition, culture medium or cell lysate containing aβ-glucosidase polypeptide of the present invention (and optionally othercellulases) under conditions suitable for the production of thefermentable sugar.

In some embodiments, the biomass includes cellulosic substrates thatcontain cellulose, hemicellulose, lignocellulose. Cellulosic substratesinclude, but are not limited to including but not limited to, wood, woodpulp, paper pulp, corn stover, corn fiber, rice, paper and pulpprocessing waste, woody or herbaceous plants, fruit or vegetable pulp,distillers grain, grasses, rice hulls, wheat straw, cotton, hemp, flax,sisal, corn cobs, sugar cane bagasse, switch grass and mixtures thereof.The biomass may optionally be pretreated to increase the susceptibilityof cellulose to hydrolysis using methods known in the art such aschemical, physical and biological pretreatments (e.g., steam explosion,pulping, grinding, acid hydrolysis, solvent exposure, and the like, aswell as combinations thereof). In some embodiments, the biomasscomprises transgenic plants that express ligninase and/or cellulaseenzymes which degrade lignin and cellulose. See, e.g., US 20080104724,which is incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, the β-glucosidase polypeptide and β-glucosidasepolypeptide-containing compositions, cell culture media, and celllysates may be reacted with the biomass or pretreated biomass at atemperature in the range of about 25° C. to about 100° C., about 30° C.to about 90° C., about 30° C. to about 80° C., about 40° C. to about 80°C. and about 35° C. to about 75° C. Also, the biomass may be reactedwith the β-glucosidase polypeptides and β-glucosidasepolypeptide-containing compositions, cell culture media, and celllysates at a temperature about 25° C., at about 30° C., at about 35° C.,at about 40° C., at about 45° C., at about 50° C., at about 55° C., atabout 60° C., at about 65° C., at about 70° C., at about 75° C., atabout 80° C., at about 85° C., at about 90° C., at about 95° C. and atabout 100° C. In addition to the temperatures described above,conditions suitable for converting a biomass substrate to a fermentablesugar that employ a β-glucosidase polypeptide of the present invention(optionally in a composition, cell culture medium, or cell lysate)include carrying out the process at a pH in a range from about pH 3.0 toabout 8.5, about pH 3.5 to about 8.5, about pH 4.0 to about 7.5, aboutpH 4.0 to about 7.0 and about pH 4.0 to about 6.5. Those having ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate that the reaction times for convertinga particular biomass substrate to a fermentable sugar may vary but theoptimal reaction time can be readily determined. Exemplary reactiontimes may be in the range of from about 1 to about 240 hours, from about5 to about 180 hrs and from about 10 to about 150 hrs. For example, theincubation time may be at least 1 hr, at least 5 hrs, at least 10 hrs,at least 15 hrs, at least 25 hrs, at least 50 hr, at least 100 hrs, atleast 180 and the like.

Reaction of the β-glucosidase with biomass substrate or pretreatedbiomass substrate under these conditions may result in the release ofsubstantial amounts of the soluble sugars from the substrate. Forexample at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% or more soluble sugar maybe available as compared to the release of sugar by the wildtype C1. Insome embodiments, the amount of soluble sugar made available may be atleast 2-fold, at least 3-fold, at least 4-fold, or at least 5-foldgreater than that made available by the wildtype C1 under the sameconditions. In some embodiments, the soluble sugars will compriseglucose.

The soluble sugars produced by the methods of the present invention maybe used to produce an alcohol (such as, for example, ethanol, butanol,and the like). The present invention therefore provides a method ofproducing an alcohol, where the method comprises (a) providing afermentable sugar produced using a β-glucosidase polypeptide of thepresent invention in the methods described supra; (b) contacting thefermentable sugar with a fermenting microorganism to produce the alcoholor other metabolic product; and (c) recovering the alcohol or othermetabolic product.

In some embodiments, the β-glucosidase polypeptide of the presentinvention, or composition, cell culture medium, or cell lysatecontaining the β-glucosidase polypeptide may be used to catalyze thehydrolysis of a biomass substrate to a fermentable sugar in the presenceof a fermenting microorganism such as a yeast (e.g., Saccharomyces sp.,such as, for example, S. cerevisiae, Pichia sp., and the like) or otherC5 or C6 fermenting microorganisms that are well known in the art (e.g.,Zymomonas sp., E. coli,), to produce an end-product such as ethanol. Inone example, a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF)process is used in which the fermentable sugars (e.g., glucose and/orxylose) are removed from the system by the fermentation process.

The soluble sugars produced by the use of a β-glucosidase polypeptide ofthe present invention may also be used in the production of otherend-products. such as, for example, acetone, an amino acid (e.g.,glycine, lysine, and the like), an organic acid (e.g., lactic acid, andthe like), glycerol, a diol (e.g., 1,3 propanediol, butanediol, and thelike) and animal feeds.

One of skill in the art will readily appreciate that the β-glucosidasepolypeptide compositions of the present invention may be used in theform of an aqueous solution or a solid concentrate. When aqueoussolutions are employed, the β-glucosidase solution can easily be dilutedto allow accurate concentrations. A concentrate can be in any formrecognized in the art including, for example, liquids, emulsions,suspensions, gel, pastes, granules, powders, an agglomerate, a soliddisk, as well as other forms that are well known in the art. Othermaterials can also be used with or included in the β-glucosidasecomposition of the present invention as desired, including stones,pumice, fillers, solvents, enzyme activators, and anti-redepositionagents depending on the intended use of the composition.

In addition to use for conversion of cellulosic biomass, β-glucosidasepolypeptides and compositions thereof may also be used in the food andbeverage industry for example in the process of wine making for theefficient release of monoterpenols (see, for example, Yanai and Sato(1999) Am. J. Enol. Eitic., 50:231-235, which is incorporated herein byreference) and for the preparation of glycon isoflavone-enriched tofu(see, for example, Mase et al., (2004) J. Appl. Glycosci., 51:211-216,which is incorporated herein by reference). β-glucosidase polypeptidesof the present invention may also be employed in detergent compositionsfor improved cleaning performance (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No.7,244,605; U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,263 and WO 2004/048592, which areincorporated herein by reference).

The foregoing and other aspects of the invention may be betterunderstood in connection with the following non-limiting examples.

VII: Examples Example 1 Wild-Type C1β-Glucosidase 1 (C1 Bgl1) GeneAcquisition and Construction of Expression Vectors

The wild-type C1 bgl1 cDNA was synthesized and the DNA sequenceverified. The gene was cloned into a Saccharomyces cerevisiae/C1 shuttlevector pYTDX20 using Pml1 cloning sites. The signal peptide and genewere under the control of a chitinase promoter (Pchi). The vectorcontained the REP2, rep1 and protein D (partial) origin of replicationfor S. cerevisiae and a URA3 resistance marker. The resulting plasmid(pYTDX20-C1 bgl1) was transformed into S. cerevisiae INVSC1 strain, andthe transformed host cells were grown in HTP for C1 Bgl1 proteinproduction. The C1 bgl1 sequence from the transformants was verified.The protein-encoding portion of the wild-type C1 bgl1 cDNA sequence isprovided as SEQ ID NO: 1 and the encoded polypeptide is provided as SEQID NO: 2. The first 19 residues of SEQ ID NO:2 are shown in bold andcomprise the signal peptide.

Example 2 Shake Flask Procedure

A single colony of S. cerevisiae containing a plasmid with the C1 bgl1cDNA gene was inoculated into 1 mL Synthetic Defined-uracil (SD-ura)Broth (2 g/L synthetic prop-out minus uracil w/o yeast nitrogen base(from United States Biological, Swampscott, Mass.), 5 g/L AmmoniumSulphate, 0.1 g/L Calcium Chloride, 2 mg/L Inositol, 0.5 g/L MagnesiumSulphate, 1 g/L Potassium Phosphate monobasic (KH₂PO₄), 0.1 g/L SodiumChloride) containing 6% glucose. Cells were grown for 24 hrs in anincubator at 30° C. with shaking at 250 rpm. 500 μL of the overnightculture was then diluted into 50 mL SD-ura media containing 2% glucosein a 250 mL baffled sterile shake flask and incubated at 37° C. for 48hrs. Cells were pelleted by centrifugation (4000 rpm, 15 min, 4° C.).The clear media supernatant containing the secreted C1 Bgl1 enzyme wascollected and stored at −20° C. until used.

Example 3 Assays to Determine 13-Glucosidase Activity

β-glucosidase activity may be determined either by apara-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucoside (pNPG) assay, or a cellobiose assay.

A colorimetric pNPG (p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucoside)-based assay was usedfor measuring β-glucosidase activity. In a total volume of 150 μL, 75 μLof clear media supernatant containing C1 Bgl1 enzyme was added to 75 μLof 3 mM pNPG (Sigma-Aldrich, Inc., St. Louis, Mo.) solution in 300 mMsodium acetate buffer, pH 5. The reactions were incubated at pH 5, 50°C. for 1.5 hrs. After reaction, 75 μL of the reaction mixture wasquenched with 75 μL of 1M sodium carbonate pH 11 solution. Theabsorbance of the solution was measured at 405 nm to determine theconversion of pNPG to p-nitrophenyl. The amount of p-nitrophenol productwas measured spectrophotometrically at 405 nm to calculate β-glucosidaseactivity as described by Breves, et al (1997), Appl. EnvironmentalMicrobiol. 63:3902-3910. Detectable β-glucosidase activity was observedunder high throughput screening conditions (pH 5, 65° C.).

β-glucosidase activity was also determined using a cellobiose assay,which used cellobiose (Sigma-Aldrich, Inc., St. Louis, Mo.) assubstrate. In a total volume of 150 μL, 75 μL of clear media supernatantcontaining C1 Bgl1 enzyme was added to 75 μL of 6.6 g/L cellobiose in300 mM sodium acetate buffer (pH 5). The reaction was incubated at 65°C. for 21 hours with shaking. Glucose production was determined using anenzymatic glucose assay kit (K-GLUC, Megazyme, Bray, Co. Wicklow,Ireland). In a total volume of 200 μL, 15 μL of C1 Bgl1 reaction mixturewas added to 185 μL of Glucose Determination Reagent (GOPOD Reagent,supplied as part of the K-GLUC assay kit). The reaction was incubated at50° C. for 30 minutes and the absorbance of the solution was measured at510 nm. The glucose oxidase enzyme in the GOPOD reagent reacts withglucose and produces hydrogen peroxide which then reacts with the4-aminoantipyrine in the reagent to produce a quinoneimine dye. Theamount of quinoneimine dye was measured spectrophotometrically at 510 nmto calculate β-glucosidase activity. Conversion of cellobiose to glucosewas also measured using an Agilent HPLC 1200 equipped with HPX-87H ionexclusion column (300 mm×7.8 mm) with water as eluent at a flow rate of1.0 mL/min at 80° C. The retention times of the cellobiose and glucosewere 4.7 and 5.8 minute respectively. Detectable β-glucosidase activitywas observed under high throughput screening conditions (pH 5, 65° C.).

Example 4 Evaluation of Optimal C1 Bgl1 Activity

The native C1 Bgl1 activity profile was investigated at differenttemperatures (50° C., 60° C. and 65° C.) and pH (3.5-7.5) usingcellobiose (3.3 g/L) as a substrate. The experimental and analyticalprocedures are described in Example 3. C1 Bgl1 exhibited optimumactivity at pH 5 and 50° C., and detectable β-glucosidase activity (20%of optimal activity) was observed under high throughput screeningconditions (pH 5 and 65° C.).

Example 5 High Throughput Assays to Identify Improved C1 Bgl1 Variants

Plasmid libraries containing variant C1 bgl1 genes were transformed intoS. cerevisiae INVSC1 strain and plated on SD-ura agar plate containing2% glucose. After incubation for at least 48 hours at 30° C., colonieswere picked using a Q-bot® robotic colony picker (Genetix USA, Inc.,Beaverton, Oreg.) into shallow, 96-well well microtiter platescontaining 200 μL SD-ura media and 6% glucose. Cells were grown for 24hours at 30° C. with shaking at 250 rpm and 85% humidity. 20 μL of thisovernight culture was then transferred into 96-well microtiter plates(deep well) containing 380 μL SD-ura medium and 2% glucose as describedin Example 2. The plates were incubated at 37° C. with shaking at 250rpm and 85% humidity for 48 hours. The deep plates were centrifuged at4000 rpm for 15 minutes and the clear media supernatant containing thesecreted C1 Bgl1 enzyme was used for the high throughput pNPG orcellobiose assay.

The C1 Bgl1 libraries were screened in high throughput using boththermoactivity and thermostability assays. In the thermoactivity assay,C1 Bgl1 variants were screened with a cellobiose-based high throughputassay (Substrate: cellbiose; pH: 5.0; temperature: 65° C.; time: 21hrs). Active C1 Bgl1 variants identified from the thermoactivity assaywere subsequently subjected to the thermostability assay. In thethermostability assay, the HTP media supernatant samples containing C1Bgl1 variant enzymes were pre-incubated at pH 5, 65° C. for 0 or 6hours. The residual enzyme activity after the thermal challenge wasmeasured using pNPG as substrate at pH 5, 50° C. for 1.5 hrs asdescribed in Example 3.

Thermoactivity Assay

Thermoactivity screening was a cellobiose-based high throughput assay(HTA). In shallow, 96-well microtiter plates 75 μL of media supernatantcontaining C1 Bgl1 variant enzyme was added to 75 μL of 6.6 g/Lcellobiose in 300 mM sodium acetate buffer pH 5.0. After sealing withaluminum/polypropylene laminate heat seal tape (Velocity 11 (Menlo Park,Calif.), Cat#06643-001), the plates were shaken at 65° C. for up to 21hrs. The plates were centrifuged for 5 minutes at 4000 rpm. In shallowwell clear microtiter plates, 15 μL of the reaction mixture was quenchedwith 185 μL of GOPOD Reagent solution per well. The solutions weregently mixed for 3 times and absorbance was measured at 510 nm for theidentification of thermoactivity improved C1 Bgl1 variants.

Thermostability Assay

Thermostability screening was a pNPG-based high throughput assay. Inshallow, 96-well microtiter plates, 180 μL of media supernatantcontaining active C1 Bgl1 variant enzyme was mixed with 30 μL of 1 Msodium acetate buffer pH 5.0. From a total 210 μL of the enzymesolution, 120 μL of enzyme solution was transferred into 96-well PCRplates for thermal challenge treatment, and 90 μL of enzyme solutionleft in the shallow 96-well plates was used as unchallenged C1 Bgl1enzyme sample. After sealing with aluminum/polypropylene laminate heatseal tape (Velocity 11 (Menlo Park, Calif.), Cat#06643-001), the PCRplates were heated in the thermocycler (MJ Research, Waltham, Mass.) at65° C. for 6 hrs. After thermal challenge, 90 μL of challenged enzymesolution was transferred into 96-well shallow plates. To initiate thepNPG reaction, in shallow 96-well plates, 90 μL of unchallenged orchallenged enzyme solutions were mixed with 10 μL of 15 mM pNPG(Sigma-Aldrich, Inc., St. Louis, Mo.) solution in 150 mM sodium acetatebuffer, pH 5. The reactions were incubated at pH 5, 50° C. for 1.5 hrs.After reaction, 100 μL of 1M sodium carbonate pH 11 solution was addedto the reaction mixture to quench the reaction. The absorbance of thesolution was measured at 405 nm to determine the conversion of pNPG top-nitrophenyl. The residual activity was calculated using the formula:% residual activity=100×(Absorbance of challenged samples/Absorbance ofunchallenged samples).

Residual activities of C1 Bgl1 variants were compared with that of thenative enzyme to identify the thermostability improved variants.

Example 6 Improved β-Glucosidase Activities and Stabilities ofEngineered C1 Bgl1 Variants

Improved C1 Bgl1 variants were identified from the high throughputscreening of various C1 Bgl1 variant libraries as described in Example5. A variant reference sequence exhibiting improved activity andstability compared to wildtype C1 Bgl1 was selected as a referenceprotein (Variant 3, as shown in Tables 2 and 3) and additional C1 Bgl1variants were generated and evaluated as indicated in the legend toTable 3 to identify variants that had improved stability and activityrelative to the Variant 3 reference sequence. One of the improvedvariants from this round was then selected as a reference protein(Variant 269, as shown in Tables 3 and 4) and additional C1 Bgl1variants were generated and evaluated as described in the legend toTable 4 to identify variants that had improved stability and activityrelative to Variant 269. A variant (Variant 481, as shown in Tables 4and 5) was selected from this round as a reference protein andadditional C1 Bgl1 variants were generated and evaluated as described inthe legend to table 5 to identify variants that had improved stabilityand activity relative to Variant 481. Two variants (Variant 647, asshown in Tables 5 and 6; and Variant 664 as shown in Tables 5 and 7)were then selected. Each variant served as a reference protein forseparate rounds of screening. Additional C1 Bgl1 variants were generatedand evaluated as described in the legend for Table 6 to identifyvariants that had improved stability and activity relative to variant647. C1 Bgl1 variants were also generated and evaluated as described inthe legend to Table 7 to identify variants that had improved stabilityand activity relative to Variant 664.

Tables 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 summarize the improvement inthermoactivities and thermostabilities of certain C1 Bgl1 variantsencompassed by the invention.

Example 7 Production of Improved β-Glucosidase Variants in the C1 Host

A two-step fermentation process (inoculation and main fermentationsstarting from spores) was used to express C1 bgl1 variant genes in C1.Six plasmids containing C1 bgl1 variant genes were transformed into C1strain and plated on agar plates containing M3-01 medium with 22.93%sucrose (ingredients of M3-01 Medium: 6.0 g/L Sodium Nitrate, 0.52 g/LPotassium Chloride, 1.52 g/L Potassium Phosphate monobasic (KH₂PO₄),0.24 g/L Magnesium Sulfate, 1.6 mg/L Copper(II) Sulfate pentahydrate(CuSO₄5H₂O), 5 mg/L Ferrous Sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO₄7H₂O), 22 mg/LZinc Sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO₄7H₂O), 5 mg/L Manganese(II) Chloridetetrahydrate (MnCl₂4H₂O), 1.8 mg/L Cobalt(II) Sulfate heptahydrate(CoSO₄7H₂O), 1.5 mg/L Sodium Molybdate dihydrate (Na₂MoO₄2H₂O), 11 mg/LBoric Acid, 50 mg/L EDTA, 10.0 g/L Glucose, 1.0 g/L CAS amino acids(Tritium Microbiologie B. V., The Netherlands), 16 g/L agar, 1 ml/L1000× Pen/Strep after sterilization (1000× Pen/Strep: 2 g Penicillin Gand 5 g Streptomycin dissolved in 100 ml H₂O, sterilized by filtration).The pH of the medium was adjusted to 6.5 with 10 M KOH and autoclavedfor 25 minutes at 121° C. The plates were incubated at 35° C. for 5days. Spores harvested from the agar plates were used to inoculate a 100mL F1-01 inoculum medium sterilized in a 500 mL Erlenmeyer flask toreach 5*10⁴-10⁵ spores/mL initial spore number. (Ingredients of F1-01Inoculum Medium: 0.50 g/L Potassium Phosphate dibasic (K₂HPO₄), 0.05 g/LPotassium Chloride, 0.007 g/L Ferrous Sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO₄7H₂O),1.00 g/L Yeast Extract (only KAT), 10 g/L Pharmamedia (Traders Protein,Lubbock, Tex., USA), 10 g/L D(+)Lactose monohydrate, 10 g/L Glucoseafter sterilization, 1 ml/L 1000× Pen/Strep after sterilization (1000×Pen/Strep: 2 g Penicillin G and 5 g Streptomycin dissolved in 100 mlH₂O, sterilized by filtration). The pH of the medium was adjusted to 7.0with 10 M NaOH and autoclaved for 25 minutes at 121° C. (The pH of themedium after sterilization was 6.5). To prepare inoculum culture, theflask was incubated at 35° C., 85% humidity for 3 days with shaking at250 rpm and 25 mm displacement. 15 mL F1-01 Main Fermentation Mediumsterilized in a 100 mL Erlenmeyer flask was inoculated with 750 μL ofthe obtained inoculum culture (ingredients of F1-01 Main FermentationMedium: 0.66 g/L Potassium Phosphate dibasic (K₂HPO₄), 0.24 g/LPotassium Phosphate monobasic (KH₂PO₄), 8.00 g/L Ammonium Sulphate,12.00 g/L Sodium Citrate tribasic dehydrate, 0.15 g/L Yeast Extract(only KAT), 0.09 g/L Magnesium Sulfate heptahydrate, 0.80 g/L CalciumChloride dihydrate, 24.80 g/L Pharmamedia (Traders Protein, Lubbock,Tex., USA), 26.40 g/L D(+)Lactose monohydrate, 64.80 g/L Cellulose(AlphaCel BH200A)). The medium was autoclaved for 25 minutes at 121° C.The main fermentation was carried out by incubation at 35° C., 85%humidity for 6 days with shaking at 300 rpm and 25 mm displacement.After finishing the main fermentation the cells were pelleted bycentrifugation (4500 rpm, 15 min, 4° C.). The clear medium supernatantcontaining the secreted C1 Bgl1 enzyme was collected and stored at −20°C. until used.

Example 8 Improved Thermostabilities of β-Glucosidase Variants Producedin the C1 Host

Eight C1 Bgl1 variants (3, 8, 70, 109, 143, 194, 269 and 270) and nativeenzyme, produced in the C1 host, were characterized to determine theirstabilities at high temperature (65° C.). The samples containing variousC1 Bgl1 variant enzymes were pre-incubated at pH 5, 65° C. for 0, 6 or24 hrs. The residual enzyme activity after the thermal challenge wasmeasured using pNPG as substrate at pH 5, 50° C. for 20 mins. The bestvariant of the eight exhibited up to 34-fold improvement in stabilityover the native enzyme (FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B). Comparison of stabilityprofiles of the native enzyme and eight C1 Bgl1 variants, produced fromyeast and from C1, showed good correlation between the two hosts. (FIG.1C).

Example 9 Thermostabilities of C1 Bgl1 Variants

The thermostabilities of improved C1 Bgl1 variants 3, 269, and 481 werecompared to that of the native C1 Bgl1 enzyme. The residual enzymeactivity after 24 hr incubation at pH 4.5, 65° C. was measured usingpNPG as substrate at pH 5, 50° C. for 20 mins. FIG. 2A shows thatVariant 481 had the greatest increase in activity following thermalchallenge.

The thermostability of improved C1 Bgl1 Variant 664 was compared to thatof Variant 481. The residual enzyme activity after 4 hr incubation at pH4, 65° C. was measured using pNPG as substrate at pH 5, 50° C. for 20mins. FIG. 2B shows that Variant 664 had improved enzyme activity afterthermal challenge relative to Variant 481.

The thermostability of improved C1 Bgl1 variants 3, 481, 664, 916, 885,and 871 was compared to the native enzyme (FIG. 3). Residual enzymeactivity was measured after 72 hr incubation at pH 4.5, 65° C. using apNPG assay at pH 5, 50° C. for 20 mins. The results showed that variants664, 916, 885, and 871 retained substantial activity.

The specific activity of variant 871 was compared to the native, i.e.,wildtype enzyme using a cellobiose assay (pH 4.5 or pH 5, 55° C.-75° C.;8 g/L cellobiose, 18 hr reaction). FIG. 4 shows that variant 871produced more glucose in the assay than the native enzyme.

FIG. 5 shows an alignment of Variants 871, 916, 885, 664, 647, 481, 269,and 3 with the native C1 Bgl1 amino acid sequence.

While the present invention has been described with reference to thespecific embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilledin the art that various changes can be made and equivalents can besubstituted without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, many modifications can be made to adapt a particularsituation, material, composition of matter, process, process step orsteps, to achieve the benefits provided by the present invention withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. All suchmodifications are intended to be within the scope of the claims appendedhereto.

All publications and patent documents cited herein are incorporatedherein by reference as if each such publication or document wasspecifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein byreference. Citation of publications and patent documents is not intendedas an indication that any such document is pertinent prior art, nor doesit constitute any admission as to the contents or date of the same.

SEQ ID NO: 1 Wild-type C1 bgl1 cDNA Sequenceatgaaggctg ctgcgctttc ctgcctcttc ggcagtaccc ttgccgttgc aggcgccatc 60gaatcgagaa aggttcacca gaagcccctc gcgagatctg aaccttttta cccgtcgcca 120tggatgaatc ccaacgccga cggctgggcg gaggcctatg cccaggccaa gtcctttgtc 180tcccaaatga ctctgctaga gaaggtcaac ttgaccacgg gagtcggctg gggggctgag 240cagtgcgtcg gccaagtggg cgcgatccct cgccttggac ttcgcagtct gtgcatgcat 300gactcccctc tcggcatccg aggagccgac tacaactcag cgttcccctc tggccagacc 360gttgctgcta cctgggatcg cggtctgacg taccgtcgcg gctacgcaat gggccaggag 420gccaaaggca agggcatcaa tgtccttctc ggaccagtcg ccggccccct tggccgcatg 480cccgagggcg gtcgtaactg ggaaggcttc gctccggatc ccgtccttac cggcatcggc 540atgtccgaga cgatcaaggg cattcaggat gctggcgtca tcgcttgtgc gaagcacttt 600attggaaacg agcaggagca cttcagacag gtgccagaag cccagggata cggttacaac 660atcagcgaaa ccctctcctc caacattgac gacaagacca tgcacgagct ctacctttgg 720ccgtttgccg atgccgtccg ggccggcgtc ggctctgtca tgtgctcgta ccagcaggtc 780aacaactcgt acgcctgcca gaactcgaag ctgctgaacg acctcctcaa gaacgagctt 840gggtttcagg gcttcgtcat gagcgactgg caggcacagc acactggcgc agcaagcgcc 900gtggctggtc tcgatatgtc catgccgggc gacacccagt tcaacactgg cgtcagtttc 960tggggcgcca atctcaccct cgccgtcctc aacggcacag tccctgccta ccgtctcgac 1020gacatggcca tgcgcatcat ggccgccctc ttcaaggtca ccaagaccac cgacctggaa 1080ccgatcaact tctccttctg gaccgacgac acttatggcc cgatccactg ggccgccaag 1140cagggctacc aggagattaa ttcccacgtt gacgtccgcg ccgaccacgg caacctcatc 1200cgggagattg ccgccaaggg tacggtgctg ctgaagaata ccggctctct acccctgaac 1260aagccaaagt tcgtggccgt catcggcgag gatgctgggt cgagccccaa cgggcccaac 1320ggctgcagcg accgcggctg taacgaaggc acgctcgcca tgggctgggg atccggcaca 1380gccaactatc cgtacctcgt ttcccccgac gccgcgctcc aggcccgggc catccaggac 1440ggcacgaggt acgagagcgt cctgtccaac tacgccgagg aaaagacaaa ggctctggtc 1500tcgcaggcca atgcaaccgc catcgtcttc gtcaatgccg actcaggcga gggctacatc 1560aacgtggacg gtaacgaggg cgaccgtaag aacctgactc tctggaacaa cggtgatact 1620ctggtcaaga acgtctcgag ctggtgcagc aacaccatcg tcgtcatcca ctcggtcggc 1680ccggtcctcc tgaccgattg gtacgacaac cccaacatca cggccattct ctgggctggt 1740cttccgggcc aggagtcggg caactccatc accgacgtgc tttacggcaa ggtcaacccc 1800gccgcccgct cgcccttcac ttggggcaag acccgcgaaa gctatggcgc ggacgtcctg 1860tacaagccga ataatggcaa tggtgcgccc caacaggact tcaccgaggg cgtcttcatc 1920gactaccgct acttcgacaa ggttgacgat gactcggtca tctacgagtt cggccacggc 1980ctgagctaca ccaccttcga gtacagcaac atccgcgtcg tcaagtccaa cgtcagcgag 2040taccggccca cgacgggcac cacggcccag gccccgacgt ttggcaactt ctccaccgac 2100ctcgaggact atctcttccc caaggacgag ttcccctaca tctaccagta catctacccg 2160tacctcaaca cgaccgaccc ccggagggcc tcggccgatc cccactacgg ccagaccgcc 2220gaggagttcc tcccgcccca cgccaccgat gacgaccccc agccgctcct ccggtcctcg 2280ggcggaaact cccccggcgg caaccgccag ctgtacgaca ttgcctacac aatcacggcc 2340gacatcacga atacgggctc cgttgtaggc gaggaggtac cgcagctcta cgtctcgctg 2400ggcggtcccg aggatcccaa ggtgcagctg cgcgactttg acaggatgcg gatcgaaccc 2460ggcgagacga ggcagttcac cggccgcctg acgcgcagag atctgagcaa ctgggacgtc 2520acggtgcagg actgggtcat cagcaggtat cccaagacgg catatgttgg gaggagcagc 2580cggaagttgg atctcaagat tgagcttcct tga 2613SEQ ID NO: 2: Wild-type C1 Bgl1 Polypeptide Sequence; signal peptide indicated in boldMKAAALSCLF GSTLAVAGAI ESRKVHQKPL ARSEPFYPSP WMNPNADGWA EAYAQAKSFV 60SQMTLLEKVN LTTGVGWGAE QCVGQVGAIP RLGLRSLCMH DSPLGIRGAD YNSAFPSGQT 120VAATWDRGLM YRRGYAMGQE AKGKGINVLL GPVAGPLGRM PEGGRNWEGF APDPVLTGIG 180MSETIKGIQD AGVIACAKHF IGNEQEHFRQ VPEAQGYGYN ISETLSSNID DKTMHELYLW 240PFADAVRAGV GSVMCSYQQV NNSYACQNSK LLNDLLKNEL GFQGFVMSDW QAQHTGAASA 300VAGLDMSMPG DTQFNTGVSF WGANLTLAVL NGTVPAYRLD DMAMRIMAAL FKVTKTTDLE 360PINFSFWTDD TYGPIHWAAK QGYQEINSHV DVRADHGNLI REIAAKGTVL LKNTGSLPLN 420KPKFVAVIGE DAGSSPNGPN GCSDRGCNEG TLAMGWGSGT ANYPYLVSPD AALQARAIQD 480GTRYESVLSN YAEEKTKALV SQANATAIVF VNADSGEGYI NVDGNEGDRK NLTLWNNGDT 540LVKNVSSWCS NTIVVIHSVG PVLLTDWYDN PNITAILWAG LPGQESGNSI TDVLYGKVNP 600AARSPFTWGK TRESYGADVL YKPNNGNGAP QQDFTEGVFI DYRYFDKVDD DSVIYEFGHG 660LSYTTFEYSN IRVVKSNVSE YRPTTGTTAQ APTFGNFSTD LEDYLFPKDE FPYIYQYIYP 720YLNTTDPRRA SADPHYGQTA EEFLPPHATD DDPQPLLRSS GGNSPGGNRQ LYDIVYTITA 780DITNTGSVVG EEVPQLYVSL GGPEDPKVQL RDFDRMRIEP GETRQFTGRL TRRDLSNWDV 840TVQDWVISRY PKTAYVGRSS RKLDLKIELP 870SEQ ID NO: 3: Polynucleotide Sequence Encoding Wild-Type Chrysosporium lucknowenseβ-glucosidase 1 protein using Codons Biased For Expression in Saccharomycescerevisiae. The protein encoded by SEQ ID NO: 3 is SEQ ID NO: 22.                                                                        ATAGAAAGTAGAAAGGTA                                                                         I  E  S  R  K  VCATCAAAAACCATTAGCTAGATCAGAACCATTCTACCCTTCTCCATGGATGAACCCTAATGCAGATGGATGGGCAGAAGCATATGCTCAG H  Q  K  P  L  A  R  S  E  P  F  Y  P  S  P  W  M  N  P  N  A  D  G  W  A  E  A  Y  A  QGCCAAGAGTTTTGTCTCCCAGATGACTCTGTTGGAAAAGGTTAATCTGACAACAGGAGTAGGATGGGGTGCAGAACAGTGTGTCGGCCAA A  K  S  F  V  S  Q  M  T  L  L  E  K  V  N  L  T  T  G  V  G  W  G  A  E  Q  C  V  G  QGTTGGTGCTATCCCTAGATTGGGTCTTAGAAGTTTGTGTATGCACGATTCTCCCTTAGGTATAAGAGGCGCTGACTATAACTCAGCATTC V  G  A  I  P  R  L  G  L  R  S  L  C  M  H  D  S  P  L  G  I  R  G  A  D  Y  N  S  A  FCCATCCGGGCAAACTGTTGCTGCGACATGGGACAGGGGTTTGATGTATAGAAGGGGTTATGCGATGGGTCAAGAGGCAAAGGGTAAAGGA P  S  G  Q  T  V  A  A  T  W  D  R  G  L  M  Y  R  R  G  Y  A  M  G  Q  E  A  K  G  K  GATTAATGTATTGTTGGGGCCGGTGGCGGGGCCACTGGGAAGAATGCCAGAAGGTGGAAGGAACTGGGAAGGATTCGCCCCCGACCCAGTG I  N  V  L  L  G  P  V  A  G  P  L  G  R  M  P  E  G  G  R  N  W  E  G  F  A  P  D  P  VCTAACAGGTATAGGTATGTCCGAAACGATCAAAGGCATACAAGATGCAGGTGTTATCGCCTGTGCGAAGCATTTTATTGGTAATGAACAA L  T  G  I  G  M  S  E  T  I  K  G  I  Q  D  A  G  V  I  A  C  A  K  H  F  I  G  N  E  QGAGCATTTTCGTCAAGTGCCAGAGGCTCAAGGTTATGGTTATAATATTTCTGAAACTTTAAGTTCCAACATCGATGACAAAACCATGCAC E  H  F  R  Q  V  P  E  A  Q  G  Y  G  Y  N  I  S  E  T  L  S  S  N  I  D  D  K  T  M  HGAGTTATACTTATGGCCTTTTGCAGACGCTGTGAGAGCTGGCGTTGGCTCTGTTATGTGCTCTTATCAGCAAGTTAATAACTCTTACGCC E  L  Y  L  W  P  F  A  D  A  V  R  A  G  V  G  S  V  M  C  S  Y  Q  Q  V  N  N  S  Y  ATGTCAAAATTCCAAGTTACTAAATGACTTATTGAAGAACGAACTAGGATTCCAAGGATTCGTCATGAGCGATTGGCAAGCACAGCATACT C  Q  N  S  K  L  L  N  D  L  L  K  N  E  L  G  F  Q  G  F  V  M  S  D  W  Q  A  Q  H  TGGTGCTGCATCCGCTGTGGCAGGATTAGATATGTCAATGCCAGGAGATACACAATTTAATACTGGCGTTAGTTTTTGGGGTGCAAACCTA G  A  A  S  A  V  A  G  L  D  M  S  M  P  G  D  T  Q  F  N  T  G  V  S  F  W  G  A  N  LACTTTAGCTGTTCTAAACGGTACGGTACCTGCATATCGTTTAGACGACATGGCCATGCGTATAATGGCTGCTTTATTCAAAGTTACAAAA T  L  A  V  L  N  G  T  V  P  A  Y  R  L  D  D  M  A  M  R  I  M  A  A  L  F  K  V  T  KACCACCGATTTAGAACCAATTAATTTTAGTTTTTGGACAGATGACACATATGGTCCTATACACTGGGCTGCTAAGCAAGGGTACCAAGAA T  T  D  L  E  P  I  N  F  S  F  W  T  D  D  T  Y  G  P  I  H  W  A  A  K  Q  G  Y  Q  EATAAATAGTCACGTTGACGTAAGAGCGGATCACGGCAATCTTATCAGAGAGATAGCAGCAAAGGGAACTGTATTGTTGAAGAATACTGGT I  N  S  H  V  D  V  R  A  D  H  G  N  L  I  R  E  I  A  A  K  G  T  V  L  L  K  N  T  GTCATTACCACTAAACAAACCAAAGTTTGTCGCAGTCATTGGTGAAGATGCTGGTTCATCCCCTAATGGACCAAATGGTTGTAGTGACAGA S  L  P  L  N  K  P  K  F  V  A  V  I  G  E  D  A  G  S  S  P  N  G  P  N  G  C  S  D  RGGCTGCAATGAAGGCACGTTGGCAATGGGCTGGGGCTCAGGGACTGCCAATTACCCCTATTTGGTCTCTCCGGATGCGGCTTTACAGGCT G  C  N  E  G  T  L  A  M  G  W  G  S  G  T  A  N  Y  P  Y  L  V  S  P  D  A  A  L  Q  AAGAGCAATCCAGGATGGTACTAGATACGAGAGCGTCCTAAGTAACTATGCCGAAGAAAAGACTAAGGCCTTAGTCAGTCAAGCCAATGCC R  A  I  Q  D  G  T  R  Y  E  S  V  L  S  N  Y  A  E  E  K  T  K  A  L  V  S  Q  A  N  AACTGCTATCGTTTTCGTAAACGCGGATTCTGGCGAAGGTTATATCAATGTTGATGGTAATGAAGGTGACAGAAAGAATTTAACTTTATGG T  A  I  V  F  V  N  A  D  S  G  E  G  Y  I  N  V  D  G  N  E  G  D  R  K  N  L  T  L  WAATAACGGCGACACATTAGTTAAAAATGTATCAAGTTGGTGTTCCAATACTATCGTCGTGATACATTCTGTTGGTCCAGTTTTACTGACA N  N  G  D  T  L  V  K  N  V  S  S  W  C  S  N  T  I  V  V  I  H  S  V  G  P  V  L  L  TGACTGGTACGATAACCCAAACATTACCGCCATTTTATGGGCAGGTCTGCCAGGGCAGGAATCAGGAAATTCCATTACGGACGTACTATAC D  W  Y  D  N  P  N  I  T  A  I  L  W  A  G  L  P  G  Q  E  S  G  N  S  I  T  D  V  L  YGGAAAGGTTAACCCAGCCGCCAGGAGCCCTTTCACATGGGGTAAGACAAGAGAGAGCTACGGAGCTGATGTTCTTTATAAACCGAACAAC G  K  V  N  P  A  A  R  S  P  F  T  W  G  K  T  R  E  S  Y  G  A  D  V  L  Y  K  P  N  NGGGAATGGAGCGCCACAGCAAGATTTTACTGAAGGTGTGTTCATTGACTATAGATACTTCGACAAAGTTGACGATGACTCAGTTATATAT G  N  G  A  P  Q  Q  D  F  T  E  G  V  F  I  D  Y  R  Y  F  D  K  V  D  D  D  S  V  I  YGAATTCGGTCACGGTCTATCTTATACTACTTTTGAATATTCAAATATAAGAGTAGTCAAAAGTAATGTTTCTGAATATAGGCCGACCACC E  F  G  H  G  L  S  Y  T  T  F  E  Y  S  N  I  R  V  V  K  S  N  V  S  E  Y  R  P  T  TGGAACGACGGCTCAAGCGCCTACCTTCGGTAATTTTTCAACGGATTTAGAAGATTATTTATTTCCCAAAGACGAATTTCCATACATCTAC G  T  T  A  Q  A  P  T  F  G  N  F  S  T  D  L  E  D  Y  L  F  P  K  D  E  F  P  Y  I  YCAATACATATACCCCTATCTGAATACTACCGATCCAAGAAGAGCTTCTGCCGATCCACATTACGGGCAGACTGCCGAAGAGTTCTTGCCA Q  Y  I  Y  P  Y  L  N  T  T  D  P  R  R  A  S  A  D  P  H  Y  G  Q  T  A  E  E  F  L  PCCACACGCTACTGACGACGATCCTCAACCTCTTCTGAGGTCCAGTGGCGGAAATTCACCTGGTGGTAATAGGCAGCTGTATGATATTGTG P  H  A  T  D  D  D  P  Q  P  L  L  R  S  S  G  G  N  S  P  G  G  N  R  Q  L  Y  D  I  VTATACTATAACGGCTGATATTACTAATACTGGTAGCGTTGTTGGTGAAGAAGTGCCGCAATTATATGTGTCTTTAGGTGGTCCGGAAGAT Y  T  I  T  A  D  I  T  N  T  G  S  V  V  G  E  E  V  P  Q  L  Y  V  S  L  G  G  P  E  DCCTAAGGTTCAGTTAAGAGACTTTGATAGGATGAGAATAGAACCTGGAGAAACTAGGCAATTTACAGGTAGATTGACCCGTAGGGATCTG P  K  V  Q  L  R  D  F  D  R  M  R  I  E  P  G  E  T  R  Q  F  T  G  R  L  T  R  R  D  LTCAAACTGGGATGTAACAGTGCAAGATTGGGTAATCAGCAGGTACCCGAAAACTGCATACGTGGGTAGATCTTCCCGTAAGTTAGATTTG S  N  W  D  V  T  V  Q  D  W  V  I  S  R  Y  P  K  T  A  Y  V  G  R  S  S  R  K  L  D  LAAAATTGAATTGCCATAA  K  I  E  L  P  *SEQ ID NO: 4 C1 Variant 3 cDNA sequenceatgaaggctg ctgcgctttc ctgcctcttc ggcagtaccc ttgccgttgc aggcgccatt 60gaatcgagaa aggttcacca gaagcccctc gcgagatctg aaccttttta cccgtcgcca 120tggatgaatc ccaacgccga cggctgggcg gaggcctatg cccaggccaa gtcctttgtc 180tcccaaatga ctctgctaga gaaggtcaac ttgaccacgg gagtcggctg gggggctgag 240cagtgcgtcg gccaagtggg cgcgatccct cgccttggac ttcgcagtct gtgcatgcat 300gactcccctc tcggcatccg aggagccgac tacaactcag cgttcccctc tggccagacc 360gttgctgcta cctgggatcg cggtctgatg taccgtcgcg gctacgcaat gggccaggag 420gccaaaggca agggcatcaa tgtccttctc ggaccagtcg ccggccccct tggccgcatg 480cccgagggcg gtcgtaactg ggaaggcttc gctccggatc ccgtccttac cggcatcggc 540atgtccgaga cgatcaaggg cattcaggat gctggcgtca tcgcttgtgc gaagcacttt 600attggaaacg agcaggagca cttcagacag gtgccagaag cccagggata cggttacaac 660atcagcgaaa ccctctcctc caacattgac gacaagacca tgcacgagct ctacctttgg 720ccgtttgccg atgccgtccg ggccggcgtc ggccctgcca tgtgctcgta ccagcaggtc 780aacaactcgt acgcctgcca gaactcgaag ctgctgaacg acctcctcaa gaacgagctt 840gggtttcagg gcttcgtcat gagcgactgg tgggcacagc acactggcgc agcaagcgcc 900gtggctggtc tcgatatgtc catgccgggc gacacccagt tcaacactgg cgtcagtttc 960tggggcgcca atctcaccct cgccgtcctc aacggcacag tccctgccta ccgtctcgac 1020gacatggcca tgcgcatcat ggccgccctc ttcaaggtca ccaagaccac cgacctggaa 1080ccgatcaact tctccttctg gaccctggac acttatggcc cgatccactg ggccgccaag 1140cagggctacc aggagattaa ttcccacgtt gacgtccgcg ccgaccacgg caacctcatc 1200cggaacattg ccgccaaggg tacggtgctg ctgaagaata ccggctctct acccctgaac 1260aagccaaagt tcgtggccgt catcggcgag gatgctgggt cgagccccaa cgggcccaac 1320ggctgcagcg accgcggctg taacgaaggc acgctcgcca tgggctgggg atccggcaca 1380gccaactatc cgtacctcgt ttcccccgac gccgcgctcc aggcccgggc catccaggac 1440ggcacgaggt acgagagcgt cctgtccaac tacgccgagg aaaagacaaa ggctctggtc 1500tcgcaggcca atgcaaccgc catcgtcttc gtcaatgccg actcaggcga gggctacatc 1560aacgtggacg gtaacgaggg cgaccgtaag aacctgactc tctggaacaa cggtgatact 1620ctggtcaaga acgtctcgag ctggtgcagc aacaccatcg tcgtcatcca ctcggtcggc 1680ccggtcctcc tgaccgattg gtacgacaac cccaacatca cggccattct ctgggctggt 1740cttccgggcc aggagtcggg caactccatc accgacgtgc tttacggcaa ggtcaacccc 1800gccgcccgct cgcccttcac ttggggcaag acccgcgaaa gctatggcgc ggacgtcctg 1860tacaagccga ataatggcaa tggtgcgccc caacaggact tcaccgaggg cgtcttcatc 1920gactaccgct acttcgacaa ggttgacgat gactcggtca tctacgagtt cggccacggc 1980ctgagctaca ccaccttcga gtacagcaac atccgcgtcg tcaagtccaa cgtcagcgag 2040taccggccca cgacgggcac cacggcccag gccccgacgt ttggcaactt ctccaccgac 2100ctcgaggact atctcttccc caaggacgag ttcccctaca tctaccagta catctacccg 2160tacctcaaca cgaccgaccc ccggagggcc tcggccgatc cccactacgg ccagaccgcc 2220gaggagttcc tcccgcccca cgccaccgat gacgaccccc agccgctcct ccggtcctcg 2280ggcggaaact cccccggcgg caaccgccag ctgtacgaca ttgtctacac aatcacggcc 2340gacatcacga atacgggctc cgttgtaggc gaggaggtac cgcagctcta cgtctcgctg 2400ggcggtcccg aggatcccaa ggtgcagctg cgcgactttg acaggatgcg gatcgaaccc 2460ggcgagacga ggcagttcac cggccgcctg acgcgcagag atctgagcaa ctgggacgtc 2520acggtgcagg actgggtcat cagcaggtat cccaagacgg catatgttgg gaggagcagc 2580cggaagttgg atctcaagat tgagcttcct tga 2613SEQ ID NO: 5 C1 Variant 3 Polypeptide SequenceMKAAALSCLF GSTLAVAGAI ESRKVHQKPL ARSEPFYPSP WMNPNADGWA EAYAQAKSFV 60SQMTLLEKVN LTTGVGWGAE QCVGQVGAIP RLGLRSLCMH DSPLGIRGAD YNSAFPSGQT 120VAATWDRGLM YRRGYAMGQE AKGKGINVLL GPVAGPLGRM PEGGRNWEGF APDPVLTGIG 180MSETIKGIQD AGVIACAKHF IGNEQEHFRQ VPEAQGYGYN ISETLSSNID DKTMHELYLW 240PFADAVRAGV GSVMCSYQQV NNSYACQNSK LLNDLLKNEL GFQGFVMSDW WAQHTGAASA 300VAGLDMSMPG DTQFNTGVSF WGANLTLAVL NGTVPAYRLD DMAMRIMAAL FKVTKTTDLE 360PINFSFWTLD TYGPIHWAAK QGYQEINSHV DVRADHGNLI RNIAAKGTVL LKNTGSLPLN 420KPKFVAVIGE DAGSSPNGPN GCSDRGCNEG TLAMGWGSGT ANYPYLVSPD AALQARAIQD 480GTRYESVLSN YAEEKTKALV SQANATAIVF VNADSGEGYI NVDGNEGDRK NLTLWNNGDT 540LVKNVSSWCS NTIVVIHSVG PVLLTDWYDN PNITAILWAG LPGQESGNSI TDVLYGKVNP 600AARSPFTWGK TRESYGADVL YKPNNGNGAP QQDFTEGVFI DYRYFDKVDD DSVIYEFGHG 660LSYTTFEYSN IRVVKSNVSE YRPTTGTTAQ APTFGNFSTD LEDYLFPKDE FPYIYQYIYP 720YLNTTDPRRA SADPHYGQTA EEFLPPHATD DDPQPLLRSS GGNSPGGNRQ LYDIVYTITA 780DITNTGSVVG EEVPQLYVSL GGPEDPKVQL RDFDRMRIEP GETRQFTGRL TRRDLSNWDV 840TVQDWVISRY PKTAYVGRSS RKLDLKIELP 870SEQ ID NO: 6 C1 Variant 269 cDNA Sequenceatgaaggctg ctgcgctttc ctgcctcttc ggcagtaccc ttgccgttgc aggcgccatt 60gaatcgagaa aggttcacca gaagcccctc gcgagatctg aaccttttta cccgtcgcca 120tggatgaatc ccaacgccga cggctgggcg gaggcctatg cccaggccaa gtcctttgtc 180tcccaaatga ctctgctaga gaaggtcaac ttgaccacgg gagtcggctg gggggctgag 240cagtgcgtcg gccaagtggg cgcgatccct cgccttggac ttcgcagtct gtgcatgcat 300gactcccctc tcggcatccg aggagccgac tacaactcag cgttcccctc tggccagacc 360gttgctgcta cctgggatcg cggtctgatg taccgtcgcg gctacgcaat gggccaggag 420gccaaaggca agggcatcaa tgtccttctc ggaccagtcg ccggccccct tggccgcatg 480cccgagggcg gtcgtaactg ggaaggcttc gctccggatc ccgtccttac cggcatcggc 540atgtccgaga cgatcaaggg cattcaggat gctggcgtca tcgcttgtgc gaagcacttt 600attggaaacg agcaggagca cttcagacag gtgccagaag cccagggata cggttacaac 660atcagcgaaa ccctctcctc caacattgac gacaagacca tgcacgagct ctacctttgg 720ccgtttgccg atgccgtccg ggccggcgtc ggctctgtca tgtgctcgta caaccaggtc 780aacaactcgt acgcctgcca gaactcgaag ctgctgaacg acctcctcaa gaacgagctt 840gggtttcagg gcttcgtcat gagcgactgg tgggcacagc acactggcgc agcaagcgcc 900gtggctggtc tcgatatgtc catgccgggc gacaccatgt tcaacactgg cgtcagtttc 960tggggcgcca atctcaccct cgccgtcctc aacggcacag tccctgccta ccgtctcgac 1020gacatggcca tgcgcatcat ggccgccctc ttcaaggtca ccaagaccac cgacctggaa 1080ccgatcaact tctccttctg gacccgcgac acttatggcc cgatccactg ggccgccaag 1140cagggctacc aggagattaa ttcccacgtt gacgtccgcg ccgaccacgg caacctcatc 1200cggaacattg ccgccaaggg tacggtgctg ctgaagaata ccggctctct acccctgaac 1260aagccaaagt tcgtggccgt catcggcgag gatgctgggc cgagccccaa cgggcccaac 1320ggctgcagcg accgcggctg taacgaaggc acgctcgcca tgggctgggg atccggcaca 1380gccaactatc cgtacctcgt ttcccccgac gccgcgctcc agttgcgggc catccaggac 1440ggcacgaggt acgagagcgt cctgtccaac tacgccgagg aaaatacaaa ggctctggtc 1500tcgcaggcca atgcaaccgc catcgtcttc gtcaatgccg actcaggcga gggctacatc 1560aacgtggacg gtaacgaggg cgaccgtaag aacctgactc tctggaacaa cggtgatact 1620ctggtcaaga acgtctcgag ctggtgcagc aacaccatcg tcgtcatcca ctcggtcggc 1680ccggtcctcc tgaccgattg gtacgacaac cccaacatca cggccattct ctgggctggt 1740cttccgggcc aggagtcggg caactccatc accgacgtgc tttacggcaa ggtcaacccc 1800gccgcccgct cgcccttcac ttggggcaag acccgcgaaa gctatggcgc ggacgtcctg 1860tacaagccga ataatggcaa ttgggcgccc caacaggact tcaccgaggg cgtcttcatc 1920gactaccgct acttcgacaa ggttgacgat gactcggtca tctacgagtt cggccacggc 1980ctgagctaca ccaccttcga gtacagcaac atccgcgtcg tcaagtccaa cgtcagcgag 2040taccggccca cgacgggcac cacggcccag gccccgacgt ttggcaactt ctccaccgac 2100ctcgaggact atctcttccc caaggacgag ttcccctaca tctaccagta catctacccg 2160tacctcaaca cgaccgaccc ccggagggcc tcggccgatc cccactacgg ccagaccgcc 2220gaggagttcc tcccgcccca cgccaccgat gacgaccccc agccgctcct ccggtcctcg 2280ggcggaaact cccccggcgg caaccgccag ctgtacgaca ttgtctacac aatcacggcc 2340gacatcacga atacgggctc cgttgtaggc gaggaggtac cgcagctcta cgtctcgctg 2400ggcggtcccg aggatcccaa ggtgcagctg cgcgactttg acaggatgcg gatcgaaccc 2460ggcgagacga ggcagttcac cggccgcctg acgcgcagag atctgagcaa ctgggacgtc 2520acggtgcagg actgggtcat cagcaggtat cccaagacgg catatgttgg gaggagcagc 2580cggaagttgg atctcaagat tgagcttcct tga 2613SEQ ID NO: 7 C1 Variant 269 Polypeptide SequenceMKAAALSCLF GSTLAVAGAI ESRKVHQKPL ARSEPFYPSP WMNPNADGWA EAYAQAKSFV 60SQMTLLEKVN LTTGVGWGAE QCVGQVGAIP RLGLRSLCMH DSPLGIRGAD YNSAFPSGQT 120VAATWDRGLM YRRGYAMGQE AKGKGINVLL GPVAGPLGRM PEGGRNWEGF APDPVLTGIG 180MSETIKGIQD AGVIACAKHF IGNEQEHFRQ VPEAQGYGYN ISETLSSNID DKTMHELYLW 240PFADAVRAGV GSVMCSYNQV NNSYACQNSK LLNDLLKNEL GFQGFVMSDW WAQHTGAASA 300VAGLDMSMPG DTMFNTGVSF WGANLTLAVL NGTVPAYRLD DMAMRIMAAL FKVTKTTDLE 360PINFSFWTRD TYGPIHWAAK QGYQEINSHV DVRADHGNLI RNIAAKGTVL LKNTGSLPLN 420KPKFVAVIGE DAGPSPNGPN GCSDRGCNEG TLAMGWGSGT ANYPYLVSPD AALQLRAIQD 480GTRYESVLSN YAEENTKALV SQANATAIVF VNADSGEGYI NVDGNEGDRK NLTLWNNGDT 540LVKNVSSWCS NTIVVIHSVG PVLLTDWYDN PNITAILWAG LPGQESGNSI TDVLYGKVNP 600AARSPFTWGK TRESYGADVL YKPNNGNWAP QQDFTEGVFI DYRYFDKVDD DSVIYEFGHG 660LSYTTFEYSN IRVVKSNVSE YRPTTGTTAQ APTFGNFSTD LEDYLFPKDE FPYIYQYIYP 720YLNTTDPRRA SADPHYGQTA EEFLPPHATD DDPQPLLRSS GGNSPGGNRQ LYDIVYTITA 780DITNTGSVVG EEVPQLYVSL GGPEDPKVQL RDFDRMRIEP GETRQFTGRL TRRDLSNWDV 840TVQDWVISRY PKTAYVGRSS RKLDLKIELP 870SEQ ID NO: 8 C1 Variant 481 cDNA Sequenceatgaaggctg ctgcgctttc ctgcctcttc ggcagtaccc ttgccgttgc aggcgccatt 60gaatcgagaa aggttcacca gaagcccctc gcgagatctg aaccttttta cccgtcgcca 120tggatgaatc ccaacgccga cggctgggcg gaggcctatg cccaggccaa gtcccttgtc 180tcccaaatga ctctgccaga gaaggtcaac ttgaccacgg gagtcggctg gggggctgag 240cagtgcgtcg gccaagtggg cgcgatccct cgccttggac ttcgcagtct gtgcatgcat 300gactcccctc tcggcatccg aggagccgac tacaactcag cgttcccctc tggccagacc 160gttgctgcta cctgggatcg cggtctgatg taccgtcgcg gctacgcaat gggccaggag 420gccaaaggca agggcatcaa tgcccttctc ggaccagccg ccggccccct tggccgcatg 480cccgagggcg gtcgtaactg ggaaggcttc gctccggatc ccgtccttac cggcatcggc 540atgtccgaga cgatcaaggg cattcaggat gctggcgtca tcgcttgtgc gaagcacttt 600attggaaacg agcaggagca cttcagacag gtgccagaag cccagggata cggttacaac 660atcagcgaaa ccctctcctc caacattgac gacaagacca tgcacgagct ctacctttgg 720ccgtttgccg atgccgtccg ggccggcgtc ggctctgtca tgtgctcgta caaccaggtc 780aacaactcgt acgcctgcca gaactcgaag ctgctgaacg acctcctcaa gaacgagctt 840gggtttcagg gcttcgtcat gagcgactgg tgggcacagc acactggcgc agcaagcgcc 900gtggctggtc tcgatatgtc catgccgggc gacaccatgt tcaacactgg cgtcagtttc 960tggggcgcca atctcaccct cgccgtcctc aacggcacag tccctgccta ccgtctcgac 1020gacatggcca tgcgcatcat ggccgccctc ttcaaggtca ccaagaccac cgacctggaa 1080ccgatcaact tctccttctg gacccgcgac acttatggcc cgatccactg ggccgccaag 1140cagggctacc aggagattaa ttcccacgtt gacgtccgcg ccgaccacgg caacctcatc 1200cggaacattg ccgccaaggg tacggtgctg ctgaagaata ccggctctct acccctgaac 1260aagccaaagt tcgtggccgt catcggcgag gatgctgggc cgagccccaa cgggcccaac 1320ggctgcagcg accgcggctg taacgaaggc acgctcgcca tgggctgggg atccggcaca 1380gccaactatc cgtacctcgt ttcccccgac gccgcgctcc agttgcgggc catccaggac 1440ggcacgaggt acgagagcgt cctgtccaac tacgccgagg aaaatacaaa ggctctggtc 1500tcgcaggcca atgcaaccgc catcgtcttc gtcaatgccg actcaggcga gggctacatc 1560aacgtggacg gtaacgaggg cgaccgtaag aacctgactc tctggaacaa cggtgatact 1620ctggtcaaga acgtctcgag ctggtgcagc aacaccatcg tcgtcatcca ctcggtcggc 1680ccggtcctcc tgaccgattg gtacgacaac cccaacatca cggccattct ctgggctggt 1740cttccgggcc aggagtcggg caactccatc accgacgtgc tttacggcaa ggtcaacccc 1800gccgcccgct cgcccttcac ttggggcaag acccgcgaaa gctatggcgc ggacgtcctg 1860tacaagccga ataatggcaa ttgggcgccc caacaggact tcaccgaggg cgtcttcatc 1920gactaccgct acttcgacaa ggttgacgat gactcggtca tctacgagtt cggccacggc 1980ctgagctaca ccaccttcga gtacagcaac atccgcgtcg tcaagtccaa cgtcagcgag 2040taccggccca cgacgggcac cacgattcag gccccgacgt ttggcaactt ctccaccgac 2100ctcgaggact atctcttccc caaggacgag ttcccctaca tcccgcagta catctacccg 2160tacctcaaca cgaccgaccc ccggagggcc tcggccgatc cccactacgg ccagaccgcc 2220gaggagttcc tcccgcccca cgccaccgat gacgaccccc agccgctcct ccggtcctcg 2280ggcggaaact cccccggcgg caaccgccag ctgtacgaca ttgtctacac aatcacggcc 2340gacatcacga atacgggctc cgttgtaggc gaggaggtac cgcagctcta cgtctcgctg 2400ggcggtcccg aggatcccaa ggtgcagctg cgcgactttg acaggatgcg gatcgaaccc 2460ggcgagacga ggcagttcac cggccgcctg acgcgcagag atctgagcaa ctgggacgtc 2520acggtgcagg actgggtcat cagcaggtat cccaagacgg catatgttgg gaggagcagc 2580cggaagttgg atctcaagat tgagcttcct tga 2613SEQ ID NO: 9 C1 Variant 481 Polypeptide SequenceMKAAALSCLF GSTLAVAGAI ESRKVHQKPL ARSEPFYPSP WMNPNADGWA EAYAQAKSFV 60SQMTLLEKVN LTTGVGWGAE QCVGQVGAIP RLGLRSLCMH DSPLGIRGAD YNSAFPSGQT 120VAATWDRGLM YRRGYAMGQE AKGKGINVLL GPVAGPLGRM PEGGRNWEGF APDPVLTGIG 180MSETIKGIQD AGVIACAKHF IGNEQEHFRQ VPEAQGYGYN ISETLSSNID DKTMHELYLW 240PFADAVRAGV GSVMCSYNQV NNSYACQNSK LLNDLLKNEL GFQGFVMSDW WAQHTGAASA 300VAGLDMSMPG DTMFNTGVSF WGANLTLAVL NGTVPAYRLD DMAMRIMAAL FKVTKTTDLE 360PINFSFWTRD TYGPIHWAAK QGYQEINSHV DVRADHGNLI RNIAAKGTVL LKNTGSLPLN 420KPKFVAVIGE DAGPSPNGPN GCSDRGCNEG TLAMGWGSGT ANYPYLVSPD AALQLRAIQD 480GTRYESVLSN YAEENTKALV SQANATAIVF VNADSGEGYI NVDGNEGDRK NLTLWNNGDT 540LVKNVSSWCS NTIVVIHSVG PVLLTDWYDN PNITAILWAG LPGQESGNSI TDVLYGKVNP 600AARSPFTWGK TRESYGADVL YKPNNGNWAP QQDFTEGVFI DYRYFDKVDD DSVIYEFGHG 660LSYTTFEYSN IRVVKSNVSE YRPTTGTTIQ APTFGNFSTD LEDYLFPKDE FPYIPQYIYP 720YLNTTDPRRA SADPHYGQTA EEFLPPHATD DDPQPLLRSS GGNSPGGNRQ LYDIVYTITA 780DITNTGSVVG EEVPQLYVSL GGPEDPKVQL RDFDRMRIEP GETRQFTGRL TRRDLSNWDV 840TVQDWVISRY PKTAYVGRSS RKLDLKIELP 870SEQ ID NO: 10 C1 Variant 482 cDNA Sequenceatgaaggctg ctgcgctttc ctgcctcttc ggcagtaccc ttgccgttgc aggcgccatt 60gaatcgagaa aggttcacca gaagcccctc gcgagatctg aaccttttta cccgtcgcca 120tggatgaatc ccaacgccga cggctgggcg gaggcctacg cccaggccaa gtcctttgtc 180tcccaaatga ctctgctaga gaaggtcaac ttgaccacgg gagtcggctg gggggctgag 240cagtgcgtcg gccaagtggg cgcgatccct cgccttggac ttcgcagtct gtgcatgcat 300gactcccctc tcggcatccg aggagccgac tacaactcag cgttcccctc tggccagacc 360gttgctgcta cctgggatcg cggtctgatg taccgtcgcg gctacgcaat gggccaggag 420gccaaaggca agggcatcaa tgtccctctc ggaccagtcg ccggccccct tggccgcatg 480cccgagggcg gtcgtaactg ggaaggcttc gctccggatc ccgtccttac cggcatcggc 540atgtccgaga cgatcaaggg cattcaggat gctggcgtca tcgcttgtgc gaagcacttt 600attggaaacg agcaggagca cttcagacag gtgccagaag cccagggata cggttacaac 660atcagcgaaa ccctctcctc caacattgac gacaagacca tgcacgagct ccacctttgg 720ccgtttgccg atgccgtccg ggccggcgtc ggctctgtca tgtgctcgta caaccaggtc 780aacaactcgt acgcctgcca gaactcgaag ctgctgaacg acctcctcaa gaacgagctt 840gggtttcagg gcttcgtcat gagcgactgg tgggcacagc acactggcgc agcaagcgcc 900gtggctggtc tcgatatgtc catgccgggc gacaccatgt tcaacactgg cgtcagtttc 960tggggcgcca atctcaccct cgccgtcctc aacggcacag tccctgccta ccgtctcgac 1020gacatggcca tgcgcatcat ggccgccctc ttcaaggtca ccaagaccac cgacctggaa 1080ccgatcaact tctccttctg gacccgcgac acttatggcc cgatccactg ggccgccaag 1140cagggctacc aggagattaa ttcccacgtt gacgtccgcg ccgaccacgg caacctcatc 1200cggaacattg ccgccaaggg tacggtgctg ctgaagaata ccggctctct acccctgaac 1260aagccaaagt tcgtggccgt catcggcgaa gatgctgggc cgagccccaa cgggcccaac 1320ggctgcagcg accgcggctg taacgaaggc acgctcgcca tgggctgggg atccggcaca 1380gccaactatc cgtacctcgt ttcccccgac gccgcgctcc agttgcgggc catccaggac 1440ggcacgaggt acgagagcgt cctgtccaac tacgccgagg aaaatacaaa ggctctggtc 1500tcgcaggcca atgcaaccgc catcgtcttc gtcaatgccg actcaggcga gggctacatc 1560aacgtggacg gtaacgaggg cgaccgtaag aacctgactc tctggaacaa cggtgatact 1620ctggtcaaga acgtctcgag ctggtgcagc aacaccatcg tcgtcatcca ctcggtcggc 1680ccggtcctcc tgaccgattg gtacgacaac cccaacatca cggccattct ctgggctggt 1740cttccgggcc aggagtcggg caactccatc accgacgtgc tttacggcaa ggtcaacccc 1800gccgcccgct cgcccttcac ttggggcaag acccgcgaaa gctatggcgc ggacgtcctg 1860tacaagccga ataatggcaa ttgggcgccc caacaggact tcaccgaggg cgtcttcatc 1920gactaccgct acttcgacaa ggttgacgat gactcggtca tctacgagtt cggccacggc 1980ctgagctaca ccaccttcga gtacagcaac acccgcgtcg tcaagtccaa cgtcagcgag 2040taccggccca cgacgggcac cacggcccag gccccgacgt ttggcaactt ctccaccgac 2100ctcgaggact atctcttccc caaggacgag ttcccctaca tcccgcagta catctaccca 2160tacctcaaca cgaccgaccc ccggagggcc tcggccgatc cccactacgg ccagaccgcc 2220gaggagttcc tcccgcccca cgccaccgat gacgaccccc agccgctcct ccggtcctcg 2280ggcggaaact cccccggcgg caaccgccag ctgtacgaca ttgtctacac aatcacggcc 2340gacatcacga atacgggctc cgttgtaggc gaggaggtac cgcagctcta cgtctcgctg 2400ggcggtcccg aggatcccaa ggtgcagctg cgcgactttg acaggatgcg gatcgaaccc 2460ggcgagaaaa ggcagttcac cggccgcctg acgcgcagag atctgagcaa ctgggacgtc 2520acggtgcagg actgggtcat cagcaggtat cccaagacgg catatgttgg gaggagcagc 2580cggaagttgg atctcaagat tgagcttcct tga 2613SEQ ID NO: 11 C1 Variant 482 polypeptide sequenceMKAAALSCLF GSTLAVAGAI ESRKVHQKPL ARSEPFYPSP WMNPNADGWA EAYAQAKSFV 60SQMTLLEKVN LTTGVGWGAE QCVGQVGAIP RLGLRSLCMH DSPLGIRGAD YNSAFPSGQT 120VAATWDRGLM YRRGYAMGQE AKGKGINVLL GPVAGPLGRM PEGGRNWEGF APDPVLTGIG 180MSETIKGIQD AGVIACAKHF IGNEQEHFRQ VPEAQGYGYN ISETLSSNID DKTMHELYLW 240PFADAVRAGV GSVMCSYNQV NNSYACQNSK LLNDLLKNEL GFQGFVMSDW WAQHTGAASA 300VAGLDMSMPG DTMFNTGVSF WGANLTLAVL NGTVPAYRLD DMAMRIMAAL FKVTKTTDLE 360PINFSFWTRD TYGPIHWAAK QGYQEINSHV DVRADHGNLI RNIAAKGTVL LKNTGSLPLN 420KPKFVAVIGE DAGPSPNGPN GCSDRGCNEG TLAMGWGSGT ANYPYLVSPD AALQLRAIQD 480GTRYESVLSN YAEENTKALV SQANATAIVF VNADSGEGYI NVDGNEGDRK NLTLWNNGDT 540LVKNVSSWCS NTIVVIHSVG PVLLTDWYDN PNITAILWAG LPGQESGNSI TDVLYGKVNP 600AARSPFTWGK TRESYGADVL YKPNNGNWAP QQDFTEGVFI DYRYFDKVDD DSVIYEFGHG 660LSYTTFEYSN IRVVKSNVSE YRPTTGTTAQ APTFGNFSTD LEDYLFPKDE FPYIPQYIYP 720YLNTTDPRRA SADPHYGQTA EEFLPPHATD DDPQPLLRSS GGNSPGGNRQ LYDIVYTITA 780DITNTGSVVG EEVPQLYVSL GGPEDPKVQL RDFDRMRIEP GEKRQFTGRL TRRDLSNWDV 840TVQDWVISRY PKTAYVGRSS RKLDLKIELP 870SEQ ID NO: 12 C1 Variant 664 cDNA Sequenceatgaaggctg ctgcgctttc ctgcctcttc ggcagtaccc ttgccgttgc aggcgccatt 60gaatcgagaa aggttcacca gaagcccctc gcgagatctg aaccttttta cccgtcgcca 120tggatgaatc ccaacgccga cggctgggcg gaggcctatg cccaggccaa gtcctttgtc 180tcccaaatga ctctgctaga gaaggtcaac ttgaccacgg gagtcggctg gggggctgag 240cagtgcgtcg gccaagtggg cgcgatccct cgccttggac ttcgcagtct gtgcatgcat 300gactcccctc tcggcgtgcg aggagccgac tacaactcag cgttcccctc tggccagacc 360gttgctgcta cctgggatcg cggtctgatg taccgtcgcg gctacgcaat gggccaggag 420gccaaaggca agggcatcaa tgtccttctc ggaccagtcg ccggccccct tggccgcatg 480cccgagggcg gtcgtaactg ggaaggcttc gctccggatc ccgtccttac cggcatcggc 540atgtccgaga cgatcaaggg cattcaggat gctggcgtca tcgcttgtgc gaagcacttt 600attggaaacg agcaggagca cttcagacag gtgccagaag cccagggata cggttacaac 660atcagcgaaa ccctctcctc caacattgac gacaagacca tgcacgagct ctacctttgg 720ccgtttgccg atgccgtccg ggccggcgtc ggctctgtca tgtgctcgta caaccagggc 780aacaactcgt acgcctgcca gaactcgaag ctgctgaacg acctcctcaa gaacgagctt 840gggtttcagg gcttcgtcat gagcgactgg tgggcacagc acactggcgc agcaagcgcc 900gtggctggtc tcgatatgtc catgccgggc gacaccatgc tgaacactgg cgtcagtttc 960tggggcgcca atctcaccct cgccgtcctc aacggcacag tccctgccta ccgtctcgac 1020gacatggcca tgcgcatcat ggccgccctc ttcaaggtca ccaagaccac cgacctggaa 1080ccgatcaact tctccttctg gacccgcgac acttatggcc cgatccactg ggccgccaag 1140cagggctacc aggagattaa ttcccacgtt gacgtccgcg ccgaccacgg caacctcatc 1200cggaacattg ccgccaaggg tacggtgctg ctgaagaata ccggctctct acccctgaac 1260aagccaaagt tcgtggccgt catcggcgag gatgctgggc cgagccccaa cgggcccaac 1320ggctgcagcg accgcggctg taacgaaggc acgctcgcca tgggctgggg atccggcaca 1380gccaactatc cgtacctcgt ttcccccgac gccgcgctcc aggcgcgggc catccaggac 1440ggcacgaggt acgagagcgt cctgtccaac tacgccgagg aaaatacaaa ggctctggtc 1500tcgcaggcca atgcaaccgc catcgtcttc gtcaatgccg actcaggcga gggctacatc 1560aacgtggacg gtaacgaggg cgaccgtaag aacctgactc tctggaacaa cggtgatact 1620ctggtcaaga acgtctcgag ctggtgcagc aacaccatcg tcgtcatcca ctcggtcggc 1680ccggtcctcc tgaccgattg gtacgacaac cccaacatca cggccattct ctgggctggt 1740cttccgggcc aggagtcggg caactccatc accgacgtgc tttacggcaa ggtcaacccc 1800gccgcccgct cgcccttcac ttggggcaag acccgcgaaa gctatggcgc ggacgtcctg 1860tacaagccga ataatggcaa ttgggcgccc caacaggact tcaccgaggg cgtcttcatc 1920gactaccgct acttcgacaa ggttgacgat gactcggtca tctacgagtt cggccacggc 1980ctgagctaca ccaccttcga gtacagcaac atccgcgtcg tcaagtccaa cgtcagcgag 2040taccggccca cgacgggcac cacgattcag gccccgacgt ttggcaactt ctccaccgac 2100ctcgaggact atctcttccc caaggacgag ttcccctaca tcccgcagta catctacccg 2160tacctcaaca cgaccgaccc ccggagggcc tcgggcgatc cccactacgg ccagaccgcc 2220gaggagttcc tcccgcccca cgccaccgat gacgaccccc agccgctcct ccggtcctcg 2280ggcggaaact cccccggcgg caaccgccag ctgtacgaca ttgtctacac aatcacggcc 2340gacatcacga atacgggctc cgttgtaggc gaggaggtac cgcagctcta cgtctcgctg 2400ggcggtcccg aggatcccaa ggtgcagctg cgcgactttg acaggatgcg gatcgaaccc 2460ggcgagacga ggcagttcac cggccgcctg acgcgcagag atctgagcaa ctgggacgtc 2520acggtgcagg actgggtcat cagcaggtat cccaagacgg catatgttgg gaggagcagc 2580cggaagttgg atctcaagat tgagcttcct tga 2613SEQ ID NO: 13 C1 Variant 664 polypeptide sequenceMKAAALSCLF GSTLAVAGAI ESRKVHQKPL ARSEPFYPSP WMNPNADGWA EAYAQAKSFV 60SQMTLLEKVN LTTGVGWGAE QCVGQVGAIP RLGLRSLCMH DSPLGVRGAD YNSAFPSGQT 120VAATWDRGLM YRRGYAMGQE AKGKGINVLL GPVAGPLGRM PEGGRNWEGF APDPVLTGIG 180MSETIKGIQD AGVIACAKHF IGNEQEHFRQ VPEAQGYGYN ISETLSSNID DKTMHELYLW 240PFADAVRAGV GSVMCSYNQG NNSYACQNSK LLNDLLKNEL GFQGFVMSDW WAQHTGAASA 300VAGLDMSMPG DTMLNTGVSF WGANLTLAVL NGTVPAYRLD DMAMRIMAAL FKVTKTTDLE 360PINFSFWTRD TYGPIHWAAK QGYQEINSHV DVRADHGNLI RNIAAKGTVL LKNTGSLPLN 420KPKFVAVIGE DAGPSPNGPN GCSDRGCNEG TLAMGWGSGT ANYPYLVSPD AALQARAIQD 480GTRYESVLSN YAEENTKALV SQANATAIVF VNADSGEGYI NVDGNEGDRK NLTLWNNGDT 540LVKNVSSWCS NTIVVIHSVG PVLLTDWYDN PNITAILWAG LPGQESGNSI TDVLYGKVNP 600AARSPFTWGK TRESYGADVL YKPNNGNWAP QQDFTEGVFI DYRYFDKVDD DSVIYEFGHG 660LSYTTFEYSN IRVVKSNVSE YRPTTGTTIQ APTFGNFSTD LEDYLFPKDE FPYIPQYIYP 720YLNTTDPRRA SGDPHYGQTA EEFLPPHATD DDPQPLLRSS GGNSPGGNRQ LYDIVYTITA 780DITNTGSVVG EEVPQLYVSL GGPEDPKVQL RDFDRMRIEP GETRQFTGRL TRRDLSNWDV 840TVQDWVISRY PKTAYVGRSS RKLDLKIELP 870SEQ ID NO: 14 C1 Variant 647 cDNA Sequenceatgaaggctg ctgcgctttc ctgcctcttc ggcagtaccc ttgccgttgc aggcgccatt 60gaatcgagaa aggttcacca gaagcccctc gcgagatctg aaccttttta cccgtcgcca 120tggatgaatc ccaacgccat tggctgggcg gaggcctatg cccaggccaa gtcctttgtc 180tcccaaatga ctctgctaga gaaggtcaac ttgaccacgg gagtcggctg gggggctgag 240cagtgcgtcg gccaagtggg cgcgatccct cgccttggac ttcgcagtct gtgcatgcat 300gactcccctc tcggcatccg aggagccgac tacaactcag cgttcccctc tggccagacc 360gttgctgcta cctgggatcg cggtctgatg taccgtcgcg gctacgcaat gggccaggag 420gccaaaggca agggcatcaa tgtccttctc ggaccagtcg ccggccccct tggccgcatg 480cccgagggcg gtcgtaactg ggaaggcttc gctccggatc ccgtccttac cggcatcggc 540atgtccgaga cgatcaaggg cattcaggat gctggcgtca tcgcttgtgc gaagcacttt 600attggaaacg agcaggagca cttcagacag gtgccagaag cccagggata cggttacaac 660atcagcgaaa ccctctcctc caacattgac gacaagacca tgcacgagct ctacctttgg 720ccgtttgccg atgccgtccg ggccggcgtc ggctctgtca tgtgctcgta caaccaggtc 780aacaactcgt acgcctgcca gaactcgaag ctgctgaacg acctcctcaa gaacgagctt 840gggtttcagg gcttcgtcat gagcgactgg tgggcacagc acactggcgc agcaagcgcc 900gtggctggtc tcgatatgtc catgccgggc gacaccatgt tcaacactgg cgtcagtttc 960tggggcgcca atctcaccct cgccgtcctc aacggcacag tccctgccta ccgtctcgac 1020gacatgtgca tgcgcatcat ggccgccctc ttcaaggtca ccaagaccac cgacctggaa 1080ccgatcaact tctccttctg gacccgcgac acttatggcc cgatccactg ggccgccaag 1140cagggctacc aggagattaa ttcccacgtt gacgtccgcg ccgaccacgg caacctcatc 1200cggaacattg ccgccaaggg tacggtgctg ctgaagaata ccggctctct acccctgaac 1260aagccaaagt tcgtggccgt catcggcgag gatgctgggc cgagccccaa cgggcccaac 1320ggctgcagcg accgcggctg taacgaaggc acgctcgcca tgggctgggg atccggcaca 1380gccaactatc cgtacctcgt ttcccccgac gccgcgctcc agttgcgggc catccaggac 1440ggcacgaggt acgagagcgt cctgtccaac tacgccgagg aaaatacaaa ggctctggtc 1500tcgcaggcca atgcaaccgc catcgtcttc gtcaatgccg actcaggcga gggctacatc 1560aacgtggacg gtaacgaggg cgaccgtaag aacctgactc tctggaacaa cggtgatact 1620ctggtcaaga acgtctcgag ctggtgcagc aacaccatcg tcgtcatcca ctcggtcggc 1680ccggtcctcc tgaccgattg gtacgacaac cccaacatca cggccattct ctgggctggt 1740cttccgggcc aggagtcggg caactccatc accgacgtgc tttacggcaa ggtcaacccc 1800gccgcccgct cgcccttcac ttggggcaag acccgcgaaa gctatggcgc ggacgtcctg 1860tacaagccga ataatggcaa ttgggcgccc caacaggact tcaccgaggg cgtcttcatc 1920gactaccgct acttcgacaa ggttgacgat gactcggtca tctacgagtt cggccacggc 1980ctgagctaca ccaccttcga gtacagcaac atccgcgtcg tcaagtccaa cgtcagcgag 2040taccggccca cgacgggcaa aacgattcag gccccgacgt ttggcaactt ctccaccgac 2100ctcgaggact atctcttccc caaggacgag ttcccctaca tcccgcagta catctacccg 2160tacctcaaca cgaccgaccc ccggagggcc tcggccgatc cccactacgg ccagaccgcc 2220gaggagttcc tcccgcccca cgccaccgat gacgaccccc agccgctcct ccggtcctcg 2280ggcggaaact cccccggcgg caaccgccag ctgtacgaca ttgtctacac aatcacggcc 2340gacatcacga atacgggctc cgttgtaggc gaggaggtac cgcagctcta cgtctcgctg 2400ggcggtcccg aggatcccaa ggtgcagctg cgcgactttg acaggatgcg gatcgaaccc 2460ggcgagacga ggcagttcac cggccgcctg acgcgcagag atctgagcaa ctgggacgtc 2520acggtgcagg actgggtcat cagcaggtat cccaagacgg catatgttgg gaggagcagc 2580cggaagttgg atctcaagat tgagcttcct tga 2613SEQ ID NO: 15 C1 Variant 647 polypeptide sequenceMKAAALSCLF GSTLAVAGAI ESRKVHQKPL ARSEPFYPSP WMNPNAIGWA EAYAQAKSFV 60SQMTLLEKVN LTTGVGWGAE QCVGQVGAIP RLGLRSLCMH DSPLGIRGAD YNSAFPSGQT 120VAATWDRGLM YRRGYAMGQE AKGKGINVLL GPVAGPLGRM PEGGRNWEGF APDPVLTGIG 180MSETIKGIQD AGVIACAKHF IGNEQEHFRQ VPEAQGYGYN ISETLSSNID DKTMHELYLW 240PFADAVRAGV GSVMCSYNQV NNSYACQNSK LLNDLLKNEL GFQGFVMSDW WAQHTGAASA 300VAGLDMSMPG DTMFNTGVSF WGANLTLAVL NGTVPAYRLD DMCMRIMAAL FKVTKTTDLE 360PINFSFWTRD TYGPIHWAAK QGYQEINSHV DVRADHGNLI RNIAAKGTVL LKNTGSLPLN 420KPKFVAVIGE DAGPSPNGPN GCSDRGCNEG TLAMGKGSGT ANYPYLVSPD AALQLRAIQD 480GTRYESVLSN YAEENTKALV SQANATAIVF VNADSGEGYI NVDGNEGDRK NLTLWNNGDT 540LVKNVSSWCS NTIVVIHSVG PVLLTDWYDN PNITAILWAG LPGQESGNSI TDVLYGKVNP 600AARSPFTWGK TRESYGADVL YKPNNGNWAP QQDPTEGVFI DYRYFDKVDD DSVIYEPGHG 660LSYTTFEYSN IRVVKSNVSE YRPTTGKTIQ APTFGNFSTD LEDYLFPKDE FPYIPQYIYP 720YLNTTDPRRA SADPHYGQTA EEFLPPHATD DDPQPLLRSS GGNSPGGNRQ LYDIVYTITA 780DITNTGSVVG EEVPQLYVSL GGPEDPKVQL RDPDRMRIEP GETRQFTGRL TRRDLSNWDV 840TVQDWVISRY PKTAYVGRSS RKLDLKIELP 870SEQ ID NO: 16 C1 Variant 871 cDNA Sequenceatgaaggctg ctgcgctttc ccgcctcttc ggcagtaccc ttgccgttgc aggcgccatt 60gaatcgagaa aggttcacca gaagcccctc gcgagatctg aaccttttta cccgtcgcca 120tggatgaatc ccaacgccat cggctgggcg gaggcctatg cccaggccaa gtcctttgtc 180tcccaaatga ctctgctaga gaaggtcaac ttgaccacgg gagtcggctg gggggaggag 240cagtgcgtcg gcaacgtggg cgcgatccct cgccttggac ttcgcagtct gtgcatgcat 300gactcccctc tcggcgtgcg aggaaccgac tacaactcag cgttcccctc tggccagacc 360gttgctgcta cctgggatcg cggtctgatg taccgtcgcg gctacgcaat gggccaggag 420gccaaaggca agggcatcaa tgtccttctc ggaccagtcg ccggccccct tggccgcatg 480cccgagggcg gtcgtaactg ggaaggcttc gctccggatc ccgtccttac cggcatcggc 540atgtccgaga cgatcaaggg cattcaggat gctggcgtca tcgcttgtgc gaagcacttt 600attggaaacg agcaggagca cttcagacag gtgccagaag cccagggata cggttacaac 660atcagcgaaa ccctctcctc caacattgac gacaagacca tgcacgagct ctacctttgg 720ccgtttgccg atgccgtccg ggccggcgtc ggctctgtca tgtgctcgta caaccagggc 780aacaactcgt acgcctgcca gaactcgaag ctgctgaacg acctcctcaa gaacgagctt 840gggtttcagg gcttcgtcat gagcgactgg tgggcacagc acactggcgc agcaagcgcc 900gtggctggtc tcgatatgtc cacgccgggc gacaccatgg tcaacactgg cgtcagtttc 960tggggcgcca atctcaccct cgccgtcctc aacggcacag tccctgccta ccgtctcgac 1020gacatgtgca tgcgcatcat ggccgccctc ttcaaggtca ccaagaccac cgacctggaa 1080ccgatcaact tctccttctg gacccgcgac acttatggcc cgatccactg ggccgccaag 1140cagggctacc aggagattaa ttcccacgtt gacgtccgcg ccgaccacgg caacctcatc 1200cggaacattg ccgccaaggg tacggtgctg ctgaagaata ccggctctct acccctgaac 1260aagccaaagt tcgcggccgt catcggcgag gatgctgggc cgagccccaa cgggcccaac 1320ggctgcagcg accgcggctg taacgaaggc acgctcgcca tgggctgggg atccggcaca 1380gccaactatc cgtacctcgt ttcccccgac gccgcgctcc aggcgcgggc catccaggac 1440ggcacgaggt acgagagcgt cctgtccaac tacgccgagg aaaatacaaa ggctctggtc 1500tcgcaggcca atgcaaccgc catcgtcttc gtcaatgccg actcaggcga gggctacatc 1560aacgtggacg gtaacgaggg cgaccgtaag aacctgactc tctggaacaa cggtgatact 1620ctggtcaaga acgtctcgag ctggtgcagc aacaccatcg tcgtcatcca ctcggtcggc 1680ccggtcctcc tgaccgattg gtacgacaac cccaacatca cggccattct ctgggctggt 1740cttccgggcc aggagtcggg caactccatc accgacgtgc tttacggcaa ggtcaacccc 1800gccgcccgct cgcccttcac ttggggcaag acccgcgaaa gctatggcgc ggacgtcctg 1860tacaagccga ataatggcaa ttgggcgccc caacaggact tcaccgaggg cgtcttcatc 1920gactaccgct acttcgacaa ggttgacgat gactcggtca tctacgagtt cggccacggc 1980ctgagctaca ccaccttcga gtacagcaac atccgcgtcg tcaagtccaa cgtcagcgag 2040taccggccca cgacgggcac cacgattcag gccccgacgt ttggcaactt ctccaccgac 2100ctcgaggact atctcttccc caaggacgag ttcccctaca tcccgcagta catctacccg 2160tacctcaaca cgaccgaccc ccggagggcc tcgggcgatc cccactacgg ccagaccgcc 2220gaggagttcc tcccgcccca cgccaccgat gacgaccccc agccgctcct ccggtcctcg 2280ggcggaaact cccccggcgg caaccgccag ctgtacgaca ttgtctacac aatcacggcc 2340gacatcacga atacgggctc cgttgtaggc gaggaggtac cgcagctcta cgtctcgctg 2400ggcggtcccg aggatcccaa ggtgcagctg cgcgactttg acaggatgcg gatcgaaccc 2460ggcgagacga ggcagttcac cggccgcctg acgcgcagag atctgagcaa ctgggacgtc 2520acggtgcagg actgggtcat cagcaggtat cccaagacgg catatgttgg gaggagcagc 2580cggaagttgg atctcaagat tgagcttcct tga 2613SEQ ID NO: 17 C1 Variant 871 polypeptide sequenceMKAAALSCLF GSTLAVAGAI ESRKVHQKPL ARSEPFYPSP WMNPNAIGWA EAYAQAKSFV 60SQMTLLEKVN LTTGVGWGEE QCVGNVGAIP RLGLRSLCMH DSPLGVRGTD YNSAFPSGQT 120VAATWDRGLM YRRGYAMGQE AKGKGINVLL GPVAGPLGRM PEGGRNWEGF APDPVLTGIG 180MSETIKGIQD AGVIACAKHF IGNEQEHFRQ VPEAQGYGYN ISETLSSNID DKTMHELYLW 240PFADAVRAGV GSVMCSYNQG NNSYACQNSK LLNDLLKNEL GFQGFVMSDW WAQHTGAASA 300VAGLDMSMPG DTMVNTGVSF WGANLTLAVL NGTVPAYRLD DMCMRIMAAL FKVTKTTDLE 360PINFSFWTRD TYGPIHWAAK QGYQEINSHV DVRADHGNLI RNIAAKGTVL LKNTGSLPLN 420KPKFVAVIGE DAGPSPNGPN GCSDRGCNEG TLAMGWGSGT ANYPYLVSPD AALQARAIQD 480GTRYESVLSN YAEENTKALV SQANATAIVF VNADSGEGYI NVDGNEGDRK NLTLWNNGDT 540LVKNVSSWCS NTIVVIHSVG PVLLTDWYDN PNITAILWAG LPGQESGNSI TDVLYGKVNP 600AARSPFTWGK TRESYGADVL YKPNNGNWAP QQDFTEGVFI DYRYFDKVDD DSVIYEFGHG 660LSYTTFEYSN IRVVKSNVSE YRPTTGTTIQ APTFGNFSTD LEDYLFPKDE FPYIPQYIYP 720YLNTTDPRRA SGDPHYGQTA EEFLPPHATD DDPQPLLRSS GGNSPGGNRQ LYDIVYTITA 780DITNTGSVVG EEVPQLYVSL GGPEDPKVQL RDFDRMRIEP GETRQFTGRL TRRDLSNWDV 840TVQDWVISRY PKTAYVGRSS RKLDLKIELP 870SEQ ID NO: 18 C1 Variant 885 cDNA sequenceatgaaggctg ctgcgctttc ctgcctcttc ggcagtaccc ttgccgttgc aggcgccatt 60gaatcgagaa aggttcacca gaagcccctc gcgagatctg aaccttttta cccgtcgcca 120tggatgaatc ccaacgccat cggctgggcg gaggcctacg cccaggccaa gtcctttgtc 180tcccaaatga ctctgctaga gaaggtcaac ttgaccacgg gagtcggctg gggggctgag 240cagtgcgtcg gcaacgtggg cgcgatccct cgccttggac ttcgcagtct gtgcacgcat 300gacccccctc tcggcgtgcg aggaagcgac tacaactcag cgttcccctc tggccagacc 360gttgctgcta cctgggatcg cggtctgatg taccgtcgcg gctacgcaat gggccaggag 420gccaaaggca agggcatcaa tgtccttctc ggaccagtcg ccggccccct tggccgcatg 480cccgagggcg gtcgtaactg ggaaggcttc gctccggatc ccgtccttac cggcatcggc 540atgtccgaga cgatcaaggg cattcaggat gctggcgtca tcgcttgtgc gaagcacttt 600attggaaacg agcaggagca cttcagacag gtgccagaag cccagggata cggttacaac 660atcagcgaaa ccctctcctc caacattgac gacaagacca tgcacgagct ctacctttgg 720ccgtttgccg atgccgtccg ggccggcgtc ggctctgcca tgtgctcgta caaccagggc 780aacaactcgt acgcctgcca gaactcgaag ctgctgaacg acctcctcaa gaacgagctt 840gggtttcagg gcttcgtcat gagcgactgg tgggcacagc acactggcgc agcaagcgcc 900gtggctggtc tcgatatgtc catgccgggc gacaccatgg tcaacactgg cgtcagtttc 960tggggcgcca atctcaccct cgccgtcctc aacggcacag tccctgccta ccgtctcgac 1020gacatgtgca tgcgcatcat ggccgccctc ttcaaggtca ccaagaccac cgacctggaa 1080ccgatcaact tctccttctg gacccgcgac acttatggcc cgatccactg ggccgccaag 1140cagggctacc aggagattaa ttcccacgtt gacgtccgcg ccgaccacgg caacctcatc 1200cggaacattg ccgccaaggg tacggtgctg ctgaagaata ccggctctct acccctgaac 1260aagccaaagt tcgtggccgt catcggcgag gatgctgggc cgagccccaa cgggcccaac 1320ggctgcagcg accgcggctg taacgaaggc acgctcgcca tgggctgggg atccggcaca 1380gccaactatc cgtacctcgt ttcccccgac gccgcgctcc aggcgcgggc catccaggac 1440ggcacgaggt acgagagcgt cctgtccaac tacgccgagg aaaatacaaa ggctctggtc 1500tcgcaggcca atgcaaccgc catcgtcttc gtcaatgccg actcaggcga gggctacatc 1560aacgtggacg gtaacgaggg cgaccgtaag aacctgactc tctggaacaa cggtgatact 1620ctggtcaaga acgtctcgag ctggtgcagc aacaccatcg tcgtcatcca ctcggtcggc 1680ccggtcctcc tgaccgattg gtacgacaac cccaacatca cggccattct ctgggctggt 1740cttccgggcc aggagtcggg caaccccatc accgacgtgc tttacggcaa ggtcaacccc 1800gccgcccgct cgcccttcac ttggggcaag acccgcgaaa gctatggcgc ggacgtcctg 1860tacaagccga ataatggcaa ttgggcgccc caacaggact tcaccgaggg cgtcttcatc 1920gactaccgct acttcgacaa ggttgacgat gactcggtca tctacgagtt cggccacggc 1980ctgagctaca ccaccttcga gtacagcaac acccgcgtcg tcaagtccaa cgtcagcgag 2040taccggccca cgacgggcac cacgattcag gccccgacgt ttggcaactt ctccaccgac 2100ctcgaggact atctcttccc caaggacgag ttcccctaca tcccgcagta catctacccg 2160tacctcaaca cgaccgaccc ccggagggcc tcgggcgatc cccactacgg ccagaccgcc 2220gaggagttcc tcccgcccca cgccaccgat gacgaccccc agccgctcct ccggtcctcg 2280ggcggaaact cccccggcgg caaccgccag ctgtacgaca ttgtctacac aatcacggcc 2340gacatcacga atacgggctc cgttgtaggc gaggaggtac cgcagctcta cgtctcgctg 2400ggcggtcccg aggatcccaa ggtgcagctg cgcgactttg acaggatgcg gatcgaaccc 2460ggcgagacga ggcagttcac cggccgcctg acgcgcagag atctgagcaa ctgggacgtc 2520acggtgcagg actgggtcat cagcaggtat cccaagacgg catatgttgg gaggagcagc 2580cggaagttgg atctcaagat tgagcttcct tga 2613SEQ ID NO: 19 C1 Variant 885 polypeptide sequenceMKAAALSCLF GSTLAVAGAI ESRKVHQKPL ARSEPFYPSP WMNPNAIGWA EAYAQAKSFV 60SQMTLLEKVN LTTGVGWGAE QCVGNVGAIP RLGLRSLCMH DSPLGVRGSD YNSAFPSGQT 120VAATWDRGLM YRRGYAMGQE AKGKGINVLL GPVAGPLGRM PEGGRNWEGF APDPVLTGIG 180MSETIKGIQD AGVIACAKHF IGNEQEHFRQ VPEAQGYGYN ISETLSSNID DKTMHELYLW 240PFADAVRAGV GSVMCSYNQG NNSYACQNSK LLNDLLKNEL GFQGFVMSDW WAQHTGAASA 300VAGLDMSMPG DTMVNTGVSF WGANLTLAVL NGTVPAYRLD DMCMRIMAAL FKVTKTTDLE 360PINFSFWTRD TYGPIHWAAK QGYQEINSHV DVRADHGNLI RNIAAKGTVL LKNTGSLPLN 420KPKFVAVIGE DAGPSPNGPN GCSDRGCNEG TLAMGWGSGT ANYPYLVSPD AALQARAIQD 480GTRYESVLSN YAEENTKALV SQANATAIVF VNADSGEGYI NVDGNEGDRK NLTLWNNGDT 540LVKNVSSWCS NTIVVIHSVG PVLLTDWYDN PNITAILWAG LPGQESGNSI TDVLYGKVNP 600AARSPFTWGK TRESYGADVL YKPNNGNWAP QQDFTEGVFI DYRYFDKVDD DSVIYEFGHG 660LSYTTFEYSN IRVVKSNVSE YRPTTGTTIQ APTFGNFSTD LEDYLFPKDE FPYIPQYIYP 720YLNTTDPRRA SGDPHYGQTA EEFLPPHATD DDPQPLLRSS GGNSPGGNRQ LYDIVYTITA 780DITNTGSVVG EEVPQLYVSL GGPEDPKVQL RDFDRMRIEP GETRQFTGRL TRRDLSNWDV 840TVQDWVISRY PKTAYVGRSS RKLDLKIELP 870SEQ ID NO: 20 C1 Variant 916 cDNA sequenceatgaaggctg ctgcgctttc ctgcctcttc ggcagtaccc ttgccgttgc aggcgccatt 60gaatcgagaa aggttcacca gaagcccctc gcgagatctg aaccttttta cccgtcgcca 120tggatgaatc ccaacgccat cggctgggcg gaggcctatg cccaggccaa gtcctttgtc 180tcccaaatga ctctgctaga gaaggtcaac ttgaccacgg gagtcggctg ggggatggag 240cagtgcgtcg gccaagtggg cgcgatccct cgccttggac ttcgcagtct gtgcatgcat 300gactcccctc tcggcgtgcg aggagccgac tacaactcag cgttcccctc tggccagacc 360gttgctgcta cctgggatcg cggtctgatg taccgtcgcg gctacgcaat gggccaggag 420gccaaaggca agggcatcaa tgtccttctc ggaccagtcg ccggccccct tggccgcatg 480cccgagggcg gtcgtaactg ggaaggcttc gctccggatc ccgtccttac cggcatcggc 540atgtccgaga cgatcaaggg cattcaggat gctggcgtca tcgcttgtgc gaagcacttt 600attggaaacg agcaggagca cttcagacag gtgccagaag cccagggata cggttacaac 660atcagcgaaa ccctctcctc caacattgac gacaagacca tgcacgagct ctacctttgg 720ccgtttgccg atgccgtccg ggccggcgtc ggctctgtca tgtgctcgta caaccagggc 780aacaactcgt acgcctgcca gaactcgaag ctgctgaacg acctcctcaa gaacgagctt 840gggtttcagg gcttcgtcat gagcgactgg tgggcacagc acactggcgc agcaagcgcc 900gtggctggtc tcgatatgtc catgccgggc gacaccatgc tgaacactgg cgtcagtttc 960tggggcgcca atctcaccct cgccgtcctc aacggcacag tccctgccta ccgtctcgac 1020gacatggcca tgcgcatcat ggccgccctc ttcaaggtca ccaagaccac cgacctggaa 1080ccgatcaact tctccttctg gacccgcgac acttatggcc cgatccactg ggccgccaag 1140cagggctacc aggagattaa ttcccacgtt gacgtccgcg ccgaccacgg caacctcatc 1200cggaacattg ccgccaaggg tacggtgctg ctgaagaata ccggctctct acccctgaac 1260aagccaaagt tcgtggccgt catcggcgag gatgctgggc cgagccccaa cgggcccaac 1320ggctgcagcg accgcggctg taacgaaggc acgctcgcca tgggctgggg atccggcaca 1380gccaactatc cgtacctcgt ttcccccgac gccgcgctcc aggcgcgggc catccaggac 1440ggcacgaggt acgagagcgt cctgtccaac tacgccgagg aaaatacaaa ggctctggtc 1500tcgcaggcca atgcaaccgc catcgtcttc gtcaatgccg actcaggcga gggctacatc 1560aacgtggacg gtaacgaggg cgaccgtaag aacctgactc tctggaacaa cggtgatact 1620ctggtcaaga acgtctcgag ctggtgcagc aacaccatcg tcgtcatcca ctcggtcggt 1680ccggcccccc cgaccgaccg gcacgacaac cccaacacca cggccacccc ctgggccggc 1740cttccgggcc aggagtcggg caactccatc accgacgtgc tttacggcaa ggtcaacccc 1800gccgcccgct cgcccttcac ttggggcaag acccgcgaaa gctatggcgc ggacgtcctg 1860tacaagccga ataatggcaa ttgggcgccc caacaggact tcaccgaggg cgtcttcatc 1920gactaccgct acttcgacaa ggttgacgat gactcggtca tctacgagtt cggccacggc 1980ctgagctaca ccaccttcga gtacagcaac atccgcgtcg tcaagtccaa cgtcagcgag 2040taccggccca cgacgggcac cacgattcag gccccgacgt ttggcaactt ctccaccgac 2100ctcgaggact atctcttccc caaggacgag ttcccctaca tcccgcagta catctacccg 2160tacctcaaca cgaccgaccc ccggagggcc tcgggcgatc cccactacgg ccagaccgcc 2220gaggagttcc tcccgcccca cgccaccgat gacgaccccc agccgctcct ccggtcctcg 2280ggcggaaact cccccggcgg caaccgccag ctgtacgaca ttgtctacac aatcacggcc 2340gacatcacga atacgggctc cgttgtaggc gaggaggtac cgcagctcta cgtctcgctg 2400ggcggtcccg aggatcccaa ggtgcagctg cgcgactttg acaggatgcg gatcgaaccc 2460ggcgagacga ggcagttcac cggccgcctg acgcgcagag atctgagcaa ctgggacgtc 2520acggtgcagg actgggtcat cagcaggtat cccaagacgg catatgttgg gaggagcagc 2580cggaagttgg atctcaagat tgagcttcct tga 2613SEQ ID NO: 21 C1 Variant 916 polypeptide sequenceMKAAALSCLF GSTLAVAGAI ESRKVHQKPL ARSEPFYPSP WMNPNAIGWA EAYAQAKSFV 60SQMTLLEKVN LTTGVGWGME QCVGQVGAIP RLGLRSLCMH DSPLGVRGAD YNSAFPSGQT 120VAATWDRGLM YRRGYAMGQE AKGKGINVLL GPVAGPLGRM PEGGRNWEGF APDPVLTGIG 180MSETIKGIQD AGVIACAKHF IGNEQEHFRQ VPEAQGYGYN ISETLSSNID DKTMHELYLW 240PFADAVRAGV GSVMCSYNQG NNSYACQNSK LLNDLLKNEL GFQGFVMSDW WAQHTGAASA 300VAGLDMSMPG DTMLNTGVSF WGANLTLAVL NGTVPAYRLD DMAMRIMAAL FKVTKTTDLE 360PINFSFWTRD TYGPIHWAAK QGYQEINSHV DVRADHGNLI RNIAAKGTVL LKNTGSLPLN 420KPKFVAVIGE DAGPSPNGPN GCSDRGCNEG TLAMGWGSGT ANYPYLVSPD AALQARAIQD 480GTRYESVLSN YAEENTKALV SQANATAIVF VNADSGEGYI NVDGNEGDRK NLTLWNNGDT 540LVKNVSSWCS NTIVVIHSVG PVLLTDWYDN PNITAILWAG LPGQESGNSI TDVLYGKVNP 600AARSPFTWGK TRESYGADVL YKPNNGNWAP QQDFTEGVFI DYRYFDKVDD DSVIYEFGHG 660LSYTTFEYSN IRVVKSNVSE YRPTTGTTIQ APTFGNFSTD LEDYLFPKDE FPYIPQYIYP 720YLNTTDPRRA SGDPHYGQTA EEFLPPHATD DDPQPLLRSS GGNSPGGNRQ LYDIVYTITA 780DITNTGSVVG EEVPQLYVSL GGPEDPKVQL RDFDRMRIEP GETRQFTGRL TRRDLSNWDV 840TVQDWVISRY PKTAYVGRSS RKLDLKIELP 870

What is claimed:
 1. A recombinant β-glucosidase (Bgl1) variantcomprising an amino acid sequence that has at least 95% identity toamino acid residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2 and comprises an amino acidsubstitution at position D369, wherein the positions are numbered withreference to SEQ ID NO:2.
 2. The recombinant Bgl1 variant of claim 1,comprising amino acid substitutions at positions Q291, D369, and E402,wherein the amino acid substitution at Q291 is Q291W/A/F and the aminoacid substitution at D369 is D369Q/L/Y/C/A/I/P/E/K/R/F/M/H/V.
 3. Therecombinant Bgl1 variant of claim 2, wherein the amino acid substitutionat D369 is D369H/L/R/Y and the amino acid substitution and E402 isE402N.
 4. The recombinant Bgl1 variant of claim 1, further comprising atleast one amino acid substitution at a position selected from the groupconsisting of Q258, Q313, S434, A475, K495, and G628.
 5. The recombinantBgl1 variant of claim 4, wherein the at least one amino acidsubstitution is Q258N/H, Q313M, S434P, A475L, K495N, or G628W.
 6. Therecombinant Bgl1 variant of claim 3, further comprising amino acidsubstitutions Q258N, Q313M, S434P, K495N, and G628W.
 7. The recombinantBgl1 variant of claim 1, further comprising at least one amino acidsubstitution at a position A689 or Y715.
 8. The recombinant Bgl1 variantof claim 7, wherein the at least one amino acid substitution is A689I orY715P.
 9. The recombinant Bgl1 variant of claim 6, further comprisingamino acid substitutions A689I and Y715P.
 10. The recombinant Bgl1variant of claim 9, further comprising the amino acid substitutionA475L.
 11. The recombinant Bgl1 variant of claim 1, further comprisingat least one amino acid substitution at a position D47, A343 or T687.12. The recombinant Bgl1 variant of claim 11, where the at least oneamino acid substitution is D47I, A343C, or T687W/K/C.
 13. Therecombinant Bgl1 variant of claim 9, further comprising amino acidsubstitutions D47I, A343C, and T687K.
 14. The recombinant Bgl1 variantof claim 1, further comprising at least one amino acid substitution at aposition I106, V260, F314, or A732.
 15. The recombinant Bgl1 variant ofclaim 14, wherein the at least one amino acid substitution is I106V,V260G, F314L/V, or A732G/M/V.
 16. The recombinant Bgl1 variant of claim9, further comprising amino acid substitutions I106V, V260G, F314V/L andA732G.
 17. The recombinant Bgl1 variant of claim 1, further comprisingat least one amino acid substitution at a position D47, A79, Q85, A109,or A343.
 18. The recombinant Bgl1 variant of claim 17, wherein the atleast one amino acid substitution is D47I, A79E/G/M, Q85N, A109T/S, orA343C.
 19. The recombinant Bgl1 variant of claim 16, further comprisingamino acid substitutions D47I, A79E, Q85N, A109T, and A343C.
 20. Therecombinant Bgl1 variant of claim 16, further comprising amino acidsubstitutions D47I, Q85N, A109S, and A343C.
 21. The recombinant Bgl1variant of claim 16, further comprising amino acid substitutions D47Iand A79M.
 22. The recombinant Bgl1 variant of claim 1, wherein thevariant has: (i) increased thermostability after incubation at pH 5 at65° C. for six hours relative to wild-type Bgl1 having amino acidresidues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2; or (ii) increased thermoactivity afterincubation at pH 5 at 65° C. for twenty one hours relative to wild-typeBgl1 having amino acid residues 20-870 of SEQ ID NO:2; or (iii) both (i)and (ii).
 23. An enzyme composition comprising the recombinant Bgl1variant of claim
 1. 24. The enzyme composition of claim 23, wherein theenzyme composition further comprises a) a recombinant endoglucanase (EG)polypeptide; b) a recombinant cellobiohydrolase polypeptide (CBH); or c)a recombinant EG polypeptide and a recombinant CBH polypeptide.
 25. Theenzyme composition of claim 24, further comprising at least onepolypeptide selected from a hemicellulase, a pectinase, a ligninperoxidase, a manganese peroxidase, a laccase, or a cellobiosedehydrogenase.
 26. The enzyme composition of claim 23, furthercomprising a host cell that expresses the recombinant Bgl1 variant. 27.A method of producing glucose, the method comprising incubatingcellobiose with the recombinant Bgl1 variant of claim 1 under conditionsin which glucose is produced.
 28. A method of producing ethanol, themethod comprising incubating cellobiose with the recombinant Bgl1variant of claim 1 under conditions in which glucose is produced; andincubating said glucose with at least one fermenting microorganism in afermentation reaction under conditions in which ethanol is produced.